CDO's Transformation Journey
Founded in 2020, CDO spent four formative years operating through volunteer commitment and local relationships. Staff lived alongside communities, spoke local languages, and respected cultural nuances—establishing deep community trust as the foundation of all subsequent interventions.
Our initial work was entirely grounded in the relationships built day by day. Trust was earned through consistent presence, active listening, and a genuine responsiveness to community needs.
— Executive Directress, CDOCDO's trajectory shifted significantly through a strategic partnership with Welthungerhilfe (WHH), supported by the EU CSF+ Capacity Development Programme. This engagement provided structured mentorship through a collaborative Organisational Capacity Assessment (OCA), identifying strengths in community engagement alongside critical gaps in systems and management.
The assessment clarified where the organisation excelled and where governance needed strengthening. This insight enabled me to join as Board Chair and actively guide the restructuring of the Board.
— Board Chair, CDOCDO achieved significant advancements through hands-on mentorship: transitioning from informal cash-based tracking to a fully structured digital accounting system, moving from activity-based implementation to results-based planning, and establishing formalised HR policies and transparent procurement procedures.
This transition has allowed us to maintain financial transparency and stability, which is crucial for our long-term operations.
— CDO Project Staff MemberUsing the Community Score Card (CSC) methodology, CDO facilitated the restoration of a local Ambulance Service that had been non-functional for over two years. This advocacy resulted in emergency response times dropping from four hours to just thirty-five minutes.
The speed with which the ambulance was restored and the services delivered was a life-saver for many of us. We finally feel that our voices lead to real change.
— Local Community MemberThe impact of CDO's professionalisation was confirmed by formal recognition from government authorities. The Ataye Town Administration issued a certificate of completion officially acknowledging the success of CDO's interventions.
Certificate of Successful Project Completion
The project successfully achieved its objectives, including capacity-building for community leaders, coaching for peacebuilders, and intra- and inter-community peace dialogues. We sincerely thank CDO for their dedicated work.
— Ataye Town AdministrationGender equity and youth participation were operationalised through recruitment protocols and leadership structures. Women and youth now hold formal decision-making roles, making up 50% of total staff and 67% of secretariat leadership. CDO engaged 140 community groups, with women representing 90% of assessment participants.
CDO now operates as a managed organisation with a project portfolio exceeding €160,000. The organisation is proficient in handling work related to social cohesion, health governance, and capacity building, with staff able to manage complex projects and provide mentorship to colleagues.
The organisation has evolved from a volunteer-based grassroots initiative to a fully credible and professional institution. This journey demonstrates how strategic partnerships can multiply impact.
— Board Chair, CDO€160K+
Project Portfolio
50%
Women Staff
140
Community Groups
35 min
Emergency Response