What is the MCB's Capacity Building Programme?

This Capacity Building programme is part of the Muslim Council of Britain's programme to improve the sustainability of Mosques and Muslim Organisations in the United Kingdom.

The research undertaken and the publication `Voices from the Minaret – MCB Study of UK Imams and Mosques' has provided a useful source of data which will be used to enrich and empower the community through enhancing support of fundraising activities and investing in infrastructure development of the organisations.

The programme

The Programme will target 100 medium sized Mosques and Muslim organisations from across the country to empower and capacity-build within a year. It will aim to put them firmly on the road to achieve their tasks better in everything they do. MCB will aim to work through key regional organisations and its affiliate groups to ensure that there is long term support to build the capacity of local Muslim communities to deliver lasting benefit. The overall objectives of the programme are to:

• Equip organisations with improved capacity so that they are able to achieve their full potential
• Provide training and make available flow of information to empower them so that they are able to aim for excellence without outside support
• Enable the organisations to access information about funds and resources available and procedures of applying for them
• Help them to gain sufficient knowledge and skills to play the role of a resource for other Muslim organisations in their area.

How will the programme work?

The programme will provide a wide range of guidance, information and materials to complement work being carried out by existing Muslim groups and therefore will not mean a 'one-size fits all' approach. There will be the need for groups in specific regions to find local solutions to meet local needs.

There are 4 key parts to this programme:

1. To equip organisations with improved capacity so that they are able to play a key role in achieving full potential.

a) Carry out a comprehensive audit of the status, governing instrument (constitution), structure, policies and procedures and other necessary documentation as well as the personnel and their skill levels so that the needs and gaps can be identified and addressed.
b) Establish a list of most essential priorities by working closely with individual organisations and help them to produce such documents and tools that will be necessary to build their capacity.

2. To provide training and make available flow of information to empower them so that they are themselves able to aim for excellence without outside support.

a) Organise central training course/s so that the representatives of the targeted organisations achieve necessary knowledge and skill to perform with more professionalism and become effective.

b) Use email communication and telephone and MCB mail-shorts to remain fully engaged throughout the programme period and constantly channel necessary information to the organisations.

c) Visit the organisations to facilitate further briefing and training as necessary.


3. To enable the organisations to access information about funds and resources available and procedures of applying for them.

a) Producing an electronic handbook of fund-raising and sources of funds available to the community initiatives.

b) Advise them about other ways they can access information about funding sources.
c) Inform them about procedures and effective ways to match applications with funding criteria and ways of following up grant requests.

d) Provide training as necessary.

4. To help groups to gain sufficient knowledge and skills to play the role of a resource for other Muslim organisations in their area.

a) Provide practical advice about how they can retain the knowledge and skills gained in all the above areas and pass it on to others.

b) Encourage them to champion the role of a local mentor to other organisations and contribute in building their capacity.

Who can access the Programme?

All Mosques and Muslim Organisations can 'bid' to be invited for a place on the programme. With over 2000 such organisations in the country and the aim of the programme to target 100, places will be limited.

How much will it cost?

The training costs of up to £10,500 per group will be met by MCB and as a result this training will be provided at nil cost to the participating Mosque/Muslim organisation. However, participating mosques and organisations must be willing to attend and take part in the training and the final evaluation.

When will the programme start?

We expect the first intake of 'cohorts' to take place in late summer 2007. It is expected that the 'training period' for participants will not exceed six months and may be a combination of work place learning, distant/remote project work and workshops.

How will you know that the programme is successful?

The success of the Programme will be judged on the skills developed by individuals taking part in the training and how they are able to utilise these skills to improve the performance of their own organisation and of other Muslim groups in their region.

MCB will aim to carry out formal and informal assessment at the end of the training and for a timed period following the cessation of the programme. It is likely that the following milestones, outputs and outcomes will be used to assess the quality, quantity and ultimately the success of the programme.

1. Number of participating organisations that have governing documents, policies and procedures and all other documentation in place by the end of the programme period.
2. Organisations able to score at least 60% or more in a test conducted at the end of the training to assess the level of skills gained and competence achieved.
3. Organisations ability to access information without assistance from the trainer on a specific or number of topics.
4. Participating organisations assessed on their ability to provide information and advice to other groups in their region.
5. Number of voluntary and community groups assisted
6. Number of jobs created and/or safe guarded
7. Amount of match funding provided, public/private
8. Number of training weeks provided

MCB is exploring the possibility of working with an academic institute to carry out independent assessment and certification of competency gained and in the light of this taking place the above criteria may be further revised. It is expected that the project will be considered to have met its objectives when 70% of the participating organisations have received certification.

Letter to organisations

Dear Brother in Islam

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuhu

Capacity Building of Mosques

I hope you are in the best of health and Imaan.

We are writing to inform you about our new Capacity Building of Mosques (Mosque 100) project. This Capacity Building programme has been launched by the Muslim Council of Britain to improve the sustainability of Mosques and Muslim Organisations in the United Kingdom. The programme aims to enhance and develop 100 medium sized Mosques and Muslim organisations from across the country to empower and capacity-build within a year. It will develop skills, confidence and leadership among them in order to drive forward improvements. The Programme will put them firmly on the road to achieve their tasks better in everything they do. The programme will provide a wide range of guidance, information and materials to complement work being carried out by existing Muslim groups and therefore will not mean a 'one-size fits all' approach. There will be the need for groups in specific regions to find local solutions to meet local needs.

All Mosques and Muslim Organisations in the UK are invited for a place on the programme. The training costs of up to £10,500 per group will be matched by MCB and as a result this training will be provided at nil cost to the Mosque/Muslim organisation, however you must be willing to attend and take part in the training and the final evaluation. With over 2000 Mosques and Muslim Organisations in the UK, places are very limited. The success of the Programme will be judged on the skills developed by individuals taking part in the training and how they are able to utilise these skills to improve the performance of their own organisation and of other Muslim groups in their region. It is expected that the 'training period' for participants will not exceed six months and may be a combination of work place learning, distant/remote project work and workshops.

We would like to remind you that the MCB is determined to increase the capacity of our mosques so that they can build on their existing work and better serve the community. We also need to make our mosques more inclusive by encouraging more active participation of youths and women in mosques.

If your organisation is interested to take part in this very important project, then please complete the attached form and return to the address given below.

May Allah accept all our deeds and enable us to serve the community at this critical juncture – Ameen.

Wassalam,

Regards,

Dr. Salman Al-Azami
Project Manager