Community Groups Support Funding Process
Anthea Simcock, CEO of the child protection specialist organisation, CPS, is a member of the Pathways to Partnership
Steering group working with the government to improve and strengthen the services delivered by the community and NGO
sector.
Pathways to Partnership provides an excellent opportunity for the NGO service providers to strengthen and grow, not only
in monetary terms but in the quality of their relationships, their delivery and their professionalism. The $466m that is
being added to the community-based services is extremely welcome and for many, well overdue. The real and sustainable
difference in the Pathways to Partnership approach is both in the way the money will be used, and the relationships that
have been built into the process.
Mrs Simcock says, eventually the funding will be linked with agreed outcomes and the process of deciding on and
establishing the outcomes will only be achieved in agreement with the provider. In partnership with the funder,
providers will be able to enjoy significant influence over what they will provide. When that stage is reached there will
be an expectation on the providers (and reasonably so) to be able to demonstrate the effectiveness of the services they
offer, and they will be assisted to do this through training, mentoring and other support.
As a member of the Steering Group for Pathways to Partnership, I have to say that I have been very impressed right from
the beginning with the genuineness of the Ministry of Social Development in the effort it has made to listen to, respond
to and work with the community sector. Annual cost adjustments, volume increases, long-term contracts, funding for
multiple services, help with costing of services and a fund for capacity and capability development are all examples of
ideas from the community sector which have been readily embraced and many of which have already been implemented.”
While the process of distributing the new funding is complex and demanding, MSD has followed suggestions from the
committee to ensure that those previously receiving the lowest percentage funding compared to the cost of the service,
will be the first to receive increases in funding. This will advantage those services which are vulnerable and have
historically been severely under resourced. The steering committee recognizes that there will always be challenges in
developing and implementing far-reaching new processes but is confident the new funding will have long-term benefits
across the board.
ENDS