Chambers and Association Capacity Building Program

1. Capacity Building Workshop for
2nd Tier Management
23 -24 October 2013

2. Congratulations!
You all have been promoted as
Secretary General

3. You are task is to make your Chamber
a Vibrant and Strong Organization
• What are 10 things that you
will change immediately?
• What rules will you break?
• What rules will you make?
• What will be the hurdles?

4. Your Challenges as Secretary General
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Remain ethical
Improve Skills
Hire quality HR
Train and Retain
Be creative
Make Profits
Build a professional organization

5. Vision/Mission
Goals, objectives & strategies
Action Plans & Accountability
Strong and Vibrant Organization

6. Understanding Chamber Business
A chamber is a voluntary membership
based business organization that
serves their member’s collective
interests

7. Generic Roles of a Chamber/Association
• Work proactively to improve the sector's / region’s profitability and
competitiveness (R&D)
• Work effectively to represent the sector's interests at all levels of
the legislative regulatory process (Policy Advocacy)
• Supply sound information and advice for members (PR &
Communications)
• Promote exports and other market opportunities (Trade facilitation)
• Promote training and education (Training)
• Work to ensure practice of principals of good governance (Ethics)

8. 21st Century Business Associations
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Expectations - What our members expect from our association?
Vision – is our mission is member driven or board driven?
Mission – is our mission aligned with our vision?
Communication with Board members – do we communicate
vision/Mission with board members?
Trustworthiness – do we do what we say?
Communication – do we communicate effectively with our
stakeholders?
Partners – are our partners are satisfied?
Board members – Are our broad members credible?
Committees – how effective and empowered our committees are?
Performance – Do we have a performance review system?
Monitoring – Do we have an effective monitoring system?
Leadership Development – Do we have succession planning in place?
Financial Management – Do we have a financial management system?
Governance and Ethics – Do we have any codes and do we implement?
Appreciation – Do we rejoice success?

9. Role of Office Bearers
• Develop specific objectives and business plan.
• Support and Execute business plan.
• Proactively participate in policy advocacy
initiatives.
• Promote Chamber’s image.

10. Role of Staff
Support and Implementation:
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Operations
Staff and financial management
Strategic planning
Membership development
Program/service development and delivery
Policy recommendations to the MC/EC
Research and Development
Member communication

11. Key Issues with Business Associations
• Inability to run chamber as a Business
• Lack of Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategic Plan
• Poor financial management (budgeting, fund
raising, expense projection)
• Poor networking (no membership drive)
• Lack of staff capacity (inability to attract and
retain quality staff)
• Inability to attract member attention / support
• Inability to attract donor funds
• Lukewarm efforts for organizational development