How the case for investment strengthens CBWM
- Raise your profile: Increase visibility and recognition among funders, community members, and decision-makers.
- Improve funding success: Build a stronger case for financial support by showcasing your impact.
- Enhance persuasive proposals: Clearly articulate your program’s value to attract resources and backing.
The online Guidebook takes a systematic approach, treating the Case for Investment as a comprehensive program evaluation. It organizes CBWM benefits into clear, relatable terms and, when needed, translates them into financial metrics like return-on-investment (ROI). This makes your work accessible to funders and stakeholders, communicating its value in a language they understand.
Why build a Case for Investment?
- Make a clear value proposition
Take a step back to reflect on your CBWM program’s fundamental purpose. What are the key benefits, outcomes, and contributions of your work? By effectively linking knowledge to action, your program’s value becomes apparent to a wider audience, securing the support it needs to thrive. - Speak the language of decision-makers
Translating CBWM program benefits into monetary equivalents and ROI answers critical questions like, “Is it worth the investment?” Using business and government-oriented language emphasizes the program’s value across environmental, social, cultural, and economic dimensions. - Boost accountability and transparency
Demonstrate to funders, policymakers, and communities that your program is credible, transparent, and committed to learning and capacity building. Collaboration with Indigenous governments and alignment with local governance practices can further enhance your program’s credibility. - Turn low ROI into opportunity
A low ROI doesn’t mean your program lacks value—it can highlight areas for strategic improvement. Use this as a tool to refine your methods, enhance engagement, or streamline operations, ultimately boosting your program’s impact and making a stronger Case for Investment. - Enhance planning and decision-making
Use evaluation results to guide strategic planning and operational decisions, identifying opportunities for innovation and adaptation. This ensures resources are allocated effectively and activities yield maximum impact. - Support ongoing monitoring and evaluation
Establish a baseline for continuous monitoring and evaluation, making future assessments easier and more data-driven. Evidence-based decision-making leads to better resource management and helps address unexpected outcomes. - Build organizational capacity
Strengthen your team by developing skills and insights to enhance effectiveness. Empower your local community while growing your organization’s capacity to deliver impactful programs. - Set benchmarks for success
Use evaluations to compare your program’s performance with similar organizations, identifying best practices that can serve as models for replication. Showcase your success and inspire others to follow your lead.
This streamlined approach clarifies your CBWM program’s value to stakeholders, helping secure the funding and support necessary for long-term success. With a strong Case for Investment, your organization is equipped to drive positive change for your community and the environment.