How we work
Partnering for impact: Changing systems through collaboration, meaningful participation and long-term learning.
We strive to understand the complexities of the systems we seek to change, assessing where we can make the most impact and engaging the skills and knowledge of local and global partners. Our partners use a multi-faceted approach in order to tackle the root causes of global social and environmental challenges. This includes generating knowledge, developing capacity and improving policies, strengthening networks, tactical delivery of services, and changing behaviours.
At Porticus, we aim for fundamental change in important systems that affect human lives. The structures we focus on – like the criminal justice system or the education system – are complex, multifaceted and constantly shifting. Often the need for reform is global, but the way in which change can be achieved is unique in every location.
Our approach is rooted in the belief that the closest to the issue knows the best solutions. We bring the right actors together to work on a problem. We work together with selected partners to create programmes and projects that have the potential to lead to systems change. Our partners are responsible for the execution of their projects.
Porticus does not accept unsolicited requests for grants.
To bring about system-level change, we develop programmes with our partners. In these programmes, we explore and find proven solutions guided by the following principles:
Participatory
Meaningful participation is both a moral responsibility and a way to strengthen our work. We involve people with lived experience and co-design programmes and grants together with our partners.
Responsive and flexible
We cannot, and do not, assume we can predict how complex systems will respond to interventions. And contexts and situations change. This is why we take a flexible approach to monitoring and evaluating programmes through dialogue, together with our partners.
Continuous learning
We can rely on the long-term availability of funding that allows us to work on complex issues that take time to resolve. We are prepared to experiment and look at what does and does not work in a continuous learning cycle. By sharing these insights, others can benefit and build on our learnings.
Where we work
We work across 100 countries with a network of local and global partners to improve life for individuals, to strengthen communities and to change systems for a more just and sustainable world.
Safeguarding
Protecting the people we serve, and support is a priority at Porticus, and part of our commitment to respecting human dignity. To partner with us, it's important our partners have an appropriate safeguarding policy in place to protect beneficiaries from abuse and prevent and respond to incidents. Our assessment procedure will review this.
We recognise that not all organisations working with people at risk have a policy in place, so we offer to help partners develop and implement one. It is a great opportunity to raise awareness and maximise the quality, professionalism and impact of our work together.
