Client: NAWA for Culture and Arts Association
Funder: GIZ
Project Lead: Walaa Abu Zaiter (acting as an individual consultant)
Location: Gaza, Palestine
Duration: 2019–2021
Background
NAWA for Culture and Arts, a key national organization in Gaza, embarked on a journey to strengthen its internal systems, capacities, and strategic direction to better serve the community in Deir Al Balah. Funded by GIZ, the initiative aimed to equip NAWA with robust, context-adapted systems and internal skills for effective programming, decision-making, and resilience in a highly volatile environment.
Walaa Abu Zaiter, then working as an independent consultant, was engaged across three years (2019–2021) to design and lead this comprehensive capacity-strengthening process.
The success of this engagement—combining diagnostic assessments, participatory design, capacity building, and strategy development—became the inspiration for the Localead methodology, later formalized into a signature approach for organizational strengthening.
The Process: A Timeline of Transformation
| Year | Intervention | Focus |
| 2019 | MEAL System Assessment | Baseline assessment of MEAL system: strengths, gaps, and risks |
| 2020 | MEAL System Development & Trainings | Co-creation of MEAL system tools, SoPs, and tailored trainings in data quality, MEAL fundamentals, report writing, and Theory of Change |
| 2021 | PCM System & Leadership Assessment | Organizational capacity assessment (systems & skills), including a leadership skills survey; design of PCM improvement roadmap and tailored trainings |
| 2021 | Strategy Revision & Development | Facilitation of strategy revision: problem analysis, Theory of Change, strategic enablers, and macro logframe with indicators |
Methodology: From Diagnosis to Empowerment
Walaa’s approach was holistic, participatory, and deeply contextualized:
✅ Baseline Assessments:
– Conducted a MEAL System Health Check (2019) using participatory tools and a heat map to identify gaps in systems, data quality, and capacities.
– Led a PCM System and Leadership Capacity Assessment (2021) to evaluate project cycle management processes, team leadership skills, and internal collaboration dynamics.
✅ Co-Design & Systems Development:
– Developed a comprehensive MEAL system, including SoPs for data quality, evaluations, learning, and accountability (CFRM).
– Introduced practical tools like a RACI matrix, Project Tracking Tables, and indicator frameworks.
– Facilitated the strategy revision process (2021), ensuring participatory development of the Problem Analysis, Theory of Change, Strategic Enablers, and a Macro Logframe with indicators.
✅ Capacity Building & Skills Strengthening:
Delivered targeted trainings across key areas:
– Data Quality & Collection
– MEAL Fundamentals
– Report Writing
– Theory of Change
– Project Cycle Management (PCM)
– Leadership Skills (informed by a tailored Leadership Capacity Survey)
✅ Embedding Learning:
– Participatory workshops with NAWA’s staff to validate tools, frameworks, and strategy outputs.
– Coaching for leadership and team on adaptive management and resilience in emergencies.
Impact: A Foundation for Resilience
NAWA’s strengthened systems and empowered team have demonstrated resilience during the ongoing Gaza crisis—applying the skills, tools, and frameworks developed through this multi-year engagement. From using ToC for program adaptation, to leveraging data for decision-making, to maintaining accountability with communities, NAWA stands as a case of how systematic capacity building translates into real-world impact.
This experience laid the foundation for Localead’s signature approach, built on the belief that:
Strong systems + skilled teams + clear strategies = resilient, high-impact organizations.
Feedback from NAWA staff
- “The training was wonderful and very beneficial, which helped us on the level of report writing and terminologies related to report writing.”
- “The training was excellent, different tools were used to explain the concepts, but I have a problem in English, which affected the level of benefit I gained.”
- “Fruitful and of benefit training; we need more time and practice.”
- “The training needs more time and more in-depth practice, thanks for the level of information and efforts for explaining concepts.”
- “The training was magnificent, and the trainer is highly experienced and with plenty of knowledge.”
Reflection: A Seed for Localead’s Model
This comprehensive engagement with NAWA—spanning system diagnostics, capacity building, PCM strengthening, and strategy development—inspired the Localead methodology. The model formalizes the core principles piloted with NAWA:
1️⃣ Start with an Organizational Health Assessment
2️⃣ Analyze Data Digitally (Heat Maps)
3️⃣ Prioritize with a Roadmap
4️⃣ Design Systems + Build Skills
5️⃣ Empower Teams to Adapt and Lead
6️⃣ Embed Learning for Continuous Improvement
Disclaimer
This case study reflects the capacity strengthening work delivered by Walaa Abu Zaiter, currently the CEO and Founder of Localead, during her time as an independent consultant. While the services were provided before Localead’s formal establishment, they laid the groundwork for the company’s approach and ethos.
