About the Author

Chuck Stephens - Development Advisor

OBJECTIVE

To serve as a change agent, engendering more justice and transparency in society.

SUMMARY

For thirty years I have supported nonprofit organizations, community groups and small enterprises in Africa, both as a practitioner and through back-up consultation and training.

PROFILE

Canadian citizen, born in Africa, 30 years in Africa , permanent resident in South Africa, post-graduate degree, bilingual (English and Portuguese), father and grandfather, divorced.

I approach social service as a religious vocation and thus try to be creative, innovative and transparent (my post-graduate degree is from a seminary – Regent College in Vancouver).  My focus has been on nonprofits and cooperatives (activists and entrepreneurs). My overall experience combines development practice, hands-on project management, training and advising in the planning, fundraising, implementing, reporting and M&E of development projects.  I am familiar with international cooperation in both the partnership paradigm (e.g. Canadian Foodgrains Bank) and the operational programming model (e.g. World Vision).

CAPABILITY

To strengthen the human services by:

 

Consulting

  • Facilitating strategic planning processes for NGOs
  • Conducting programme evaluations
  • Institutional reviews

Training

  • Hands-on coaching and remote mentoring
  • Short courses, seminars and workshops
  • Training trainers
  • Generating training tools and facilities

Project Management

  • Hands-on skills development at C4L
  • Training events, sometimes bundled into projects
  • Occasional contract work for other NGOs
  • Social innovation (e.g. PSS camps & Green coops)

Organization Leadership

  • Executive Director at C4L
  • C4L advancement
  • Corporate governance as ex oficio Board member

Advocacy

  • NGO Best Practice
  • Promoting transparency and that whistle blowing is a virtue
  • To quote Dorothy Day: “comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable"