Transforming the Secretariat to be more MA-centric

We have reached another important milestone in the transformation of IPPF, with the announcement of plans for a more MA-centric and unified Secretariat.

The redesign of the Secretariat is rooted in the historic changes agreed in New Delhi last year to make IPPF more transparent and accountable. The GC and DLT knew they had to scrutinise how the Secretariat works in order to make it more efficient, cost effective and truly supportive of MAs. In particular, we committed to ensuring that more money will go to frontline services by reducing Secretariat spending from core funding. The target for 2021 is to reduce this spend by about 30%, to US$20 million.

We now have a proposed design for a streamlined, MA-centric and unified Secretariat. One of the underlying principles has been moving functions closer to clients – MAs, clients, advocates and donors – to better understand and therefore react to their needs and those of the people we serve.

Decentralised global teams will coordinate key areas of work. This allows us to share knowledge and best practice while enhancing the professional expertise of colleagues around the world.

The redesign was a collaborative process, heavily involving both staff and MAs. Representatives from two MAs were part of the Advisory Committee: Dona da Costa Martinez from the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago, and Kalpana Apte from the Family Planning Association of India. Their advice, challenges, and insights were invaluable in shaping the new Secretariat with MAs at its core and in greater alignment to our Strategic Framework.

The proposed design for the unified Secretariat is going through consultation with staff, for a go live date of 1 September 2020, as per the legal requirements for each region. Any systems improvements to facilitate global working will be rolled out over the coming months.

IPPF really is changing as we seek to improve how we work and transform into the organisation that the people we serve so greatly deserve.