What is the Strategic Plan and why do we need it?
The World Federation needs a plan of what it wants to achieve. This will helps everyone to focus on what needs to be done and to make sure that we have the right resources to do it. The plan for the next decade will help us make sure that all parts of the organisation are aligned and working towards the same goal. Without such planning, the World Federation will fail to capitalise on opportunities to improve our communities or deal adequately in situations where we have responsibilities.
What will be in this strategic document?
The strategic plan will give an overview of the following:
1. Where are we?
2. Where we are going?
3. How are we going to get there?
4. How will we know when we get there?
What progress has been so far?
Since the last update in March 2003, progress has been made in the following areas:
Desk research audit
The first phase of the desk research audit has been completed. We had collected various historical documents including recent recommendations from conventions such as the Women Convention, Medical Convention, Convention on Senior Citizen, and various other reports on Zainabiya, Dhakirs and have completed the analysis of these documents. This has helped us identify common themes that will guide the strategic plan and the questions we should ask.
Qualitative and quantitative research
We have completed the first phase of the questionnaire. We are now working on a piloting this questionnaire that we plan to ask 1000 randomly selected people. People will be randomly selected from Africa, Australia, Canada, Dubai, Europe, India, Pakistan, and the United States. Responses from these questions will form the basis of what the grassroots are telling us about the World Federation.
We have started working on what questions to ask all regional and a random selection of jamaat leaders who are direct members of the World Federation. The answer to these questions will then form the underlying assumptions of how our community leaders view the World Federation.
Open Forum
We are now identifying people in the different regions who will help us in undertaking an exercise of seeking views from the grassroots about the World Federation. The purpose for these foras is to identify for the World Federation where are we at now and where we need to go.
On the 10th of May, we are meeting with various Board chairmen, the Secretariat staff and the desks at the World Federation and seek their views of how the World Federation could best serve.
We are delighted by the support we have received thus far. We have received over 20 phone calls of support and over 50 emails of ideas that should be included in this plan.
The people who have agreed to help us are: Akhtar Jaffer and Mahmood Hooda from Europe, Dr Akber Mithani from Vancouver, Hussein Rashid from Nairobi, Mohsin Kanji from Dubai, Gulam Dinani from New York, Mohamed Moledina from Texas, Hussein Walji from Minnesota, Hassan Abulo from Pakistan. We are still looking for support from people in other parts.
Web based questionnaire
We are developing a web- based questionnaire that will be available for community members to respond to and this will give us further insight into what people want from the World Federation.
Will this document be long on words and short on actions?
This the first time the World Federation has ever embarked upon a project of this kind. As such we are learning from this experience. The intention is not to have a long document but rather a living document that serves as a guide to our community. The strategic plan is a vision for the future based on research and planning which will highlight what community members are saying where the World Federation needs to go as an organisation and what resources will need to be mobilised to meet these needs. There will also be targets and performance matrix to make sure the World Federation is meeting these needs. The planning is a consultative process and as such, this document will be available for all to view and comment upon by Sunday 21st September 2003.
The Conference, to be held in Dubai on 8th, 9th and 10th of October 2003, will then deliberate upon the final document that will take into account comments received.
How can I send my views so that it is considered?
The World Federation exists to serve. As such, your views are important. You must contribute to the process by sending us your thoughts by email. Please write to strategicplan@world-federation.org
How will I know what progress has been made?
There will be regular briefing every month available on the WF website. The next briefing will come out on Sunday June 8th 2003.
The style that has been adopted to inform people about the strategic plan is in the format of “frequently asked questions.” Please do let us have your comments on this approach. You can send your comments to strategicplan@world-federation.org