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Partner Selection

Partners are defined as being non-profit organizations duly registered in their countries of origin. Southern partners may be community groups, development committees, local churches, or a variety of associations either formally or informally organized. Northern partners, however, are more normally well organized funding sources for CAUSE Canada’s various overseas programs.

The following are important attributes which CAUSE Canada looks for in deciding whether or not to initiate work with a prospective partner. It should be stated, however, that CAUSE Canada has a strong preference for working with partner agencies which embrace a similar statement of Christian faith to that of CAUSE Canada.

  1. The potential partner should embrace similar values and principles to those of CAUSE Canada
  2. The potential partner should have a similar vision as to what development work is, and how it should be implemented
  3. The potential partner should accept the basic principles of CAUSE Canada’s position on project selection criteria and only submit proposals for funding which are consistent with CAUSE Canada’s development and/or relief sector priorities.

Southern Partnerships
In very general terms, CAUSE Canada sees its Southern Partnerships as being divided into three categories:

  1. The first category or partnership has CAUSE Canada giving financial support to well organized southern NGOs with strong Boards of Directors and a proven track record of implementing and reporting on NGO activities. Typically, these organizations possess a high degree of professionalism.
  2. The second category of partnership involves national NGOs which are moving towards or are in the process of legal registration. These agencies often require capacity building initiatives as they move towards higher levels of professionalism.
  3. The third category of partnership usually involves marginalized groups which are not part of the national development scene. These groups are typically rural and are often made up of very poor members of society. They may be either indigenous peoples or members of an ethnic group which is held in low regard by the more privileged citizens of the nation. CAUSE Canada often works with these partners with a "hands on" approach.