Strategic Thinking

Throughout 2018 and 2019, EAPN is undertaking a long-term strategic thinking process, looking at where we want to be in 25 years, and how we will develop a more coherent, efficient and effective system which is ‘fit for purpose’. We are reflecting on what we want and how we want to achieve what we want – specifically what changes we want to see in Europe in the next 25 years, and the role we want to play in bringing about this change. At the end of this process, we want all of our members have a clear sense of where EAPN wants to be, the changes we want to see, and how we might go about getting there.

The process is divided into three phases, which you can clearly see in the timeline (see below). Phase I – Reaching a Shared Understanding (Jan-July 2018), Phase 2 –  Drilling Down: Agreeing EAPN’s Theory of Change based on a shared PESTLE (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal) analysis (July – December 2018), Phase 3 – Decision Making: Agreeing our Strategic Direction (Jan – Sep 2019)

Everything about the Strategic Thinking process will be captured in this section of the Members’ Room.

Updates

Phase I – Reaching a Shared Understanding (Jan – July 2018)

EAPN members and staff were engaged in two consultation processes for this first phase of the strategic thinking process, a confidential staff survey and a staff away day, and 12 confidential interviews with members. Of the latter there was both a geographic and capacity mix, as well as a mix of national and European networks, and representatives of the European Commission. Additionally, the Director of EAPN initiated a membership survey, the preliminary results of which were presented on July 7^th at the meeting of the Ex Co and EUISG which marked the end of Phase 1. Consultations were facilitated by independent research charity Quality Matters.

• See the Agenda of the final meeting (on 7 July 2018)
• See the PowerPoint presentation
• Read the Final Report “Phase 1: Reaching a Shared Understanding”

Phase II – Drilling Down: Agreeing EAPN’s Theory of Change based on a shared PESTLE analysis (July – Dec 2018)

This phase saw EAPN staff and Bureau develop a PESTLE analysis (political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental) and a draft Theory of Change, as mandated from the first phase of the Strategic Thinking process. The membership survey was also finalised during this time, and the final analysis informed the Theory of Change and PESTLE analysis. People Experiencing Poverty, through EAPN National Coordinators of People Experiencing Poverty at the national level, have also been invited to provide feedback on three specific questions during this phase, and we accept feedback until 10 December 2018.

• See the Final analysis of Members Survey
• PESTLE analysis
• Theory of Change 
• Notes of Ex Co discussion
• Agenda 
• Final Report: EAPN’s Theory of Change

Phase III – Decision Making: Agreeing our Strategic Direction (Jan – Sept 2019)

This phase will see EAPN building consensus and taking decisions on clear recommendations which are coming out of the process. Decisions will be prepared in advance of the relevant decision making body – for example, any changes to the Statutes or Standing Orders will need to be prepared by the Executive Committee and shared with EAPN members three months before the General Assembly. The 2019 General Assembly will mark the end of the Strategic Thinking process – all decisions will have been taken by the end of the General Assembly.

• Implementing the 2017 Dutch Resolution
• Governance proposal from Bureau + Presentation about the proposal
• Written input from members: see EAPN Italy (in EN and FR), EAPN Sweden, EAPN Finland and FEANTSA
• Notes of Ex Co discussions

Timeline