At the Educampus building, formerly home to Bon Bini Bazaar, the official launch of NGO Academy Aruba took place — a new project resulting from a collaboration between CEDE Aruba and the University of Aruba.
The initiative’s main goal is to strengthen civil society organizations in Aruba through training and capacity-building programs aimed at board members and those responsible for the day-to-day management of organizations.
Need for stronger organizations
According to CEDE Aruba director Daniel Techklenborg, in recent years CEDE, together with other organizations, has succeeded in attracting more funding for local and inter-island projects, including collaborations between Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten. However, to secure more opportunities and expand impact, it is necessary for local organizations to have solid internal structures.
Aruba has a large number of foundations and organizations working for community welfare. Some operate entirely on a voluntary basis, while others depend partially or fully on subsidies from the Government of Aruba.
Techklenborg emphasized that when an organization works with funds — whether subsidies or donations — it has an obligation to comply with specific criteria. Government bodies and other funding institutions increasingly demand transparency, good governance, and professionalism.
Focus on governance and sustainability
The NGO Academy program will focus on several relevant topics, including:
- Good governance
- How to write and formulate quality project proposals to secure funding
- Financial management
- Human resources (HR)
- Knowledge transfer to the next generation
- Use of AI and innovation in management
The training sessions will take place at the Educampus building and will offer courses, workshops, and meetings aimed at board members of foundations and organizations in Aruba.
Positive response from the sector
During the official launch, several organizations expressed interest and registered to participate in the program. According to CEDE Aruba, this confirms the real need within the sector for structural capacity-building.
One reality organizations face is that social issues in Aruba are not decreasing; on the contrary, they are becoming more complex. At the same time, competition for funding is a global challenge that also affects the non-profit sector.
CEDE Aruba continues to play an important role in attracting funding opportunities for the civil sector. With the creation of NGO Academy, the organization is taking a concrete step to better prepare foundations and NGOs to position themselves more strongly, professionally, and sustainably for the future.
The first classes will begin next week, with “Good Governance” as the first module in the organizational strengthening program.