Accenture Development Partnership - NETHOPE

Accenture offers an opportunity called the Accenture Development Partnership (ADP). ADP is a not-for-profit group that makes high-quality consulting services available, at greatly reduced costs, to organizations working in the international development sector. Program volunteers, such as myself, typically undertake assignments lasting between three and six months, in locations that range from Vietnam to the Balkans. The consultants accept a 50% cut in salary for the opportunity to live and work abroad with some of the most important global NGOs. Experiences range from medical aid supply chain field work – to experiences such as mine, working with executives across many NGOs. Our assignment is with an NGO called NETHOPE. NETHOPE is a shared service effort that spans 23 member NGOs! Notables such as the International and American Red Cross, World Vision, CARE, and Oxfam are member organizations. The original purpose of NETHOPE was to begin sharing certain information and connectivity technologies and over the past 3 years there have been many quick-wins in sharing satellite communications and field internet capabilities.

Our ADP project team consists of a Senior Manager in the Strategy practice named Tom Abell, a Consultant in our Technology Architecture practice named Steve Gore and myself. Over the next 4 months our goal is to assess opportunities for further shared services across all 23 member organizations in the following functional areas, 1) Connectivity, 2) Collaboration, 3) Service Desk, 4) Supply Chain, 5) Field Training / Learning 6) Special Project Design, Monitoring and Evaluation. The first three areas will be 'owned' by Steve as he has a more technical background. The latter three areas are my responsibility. Needless to say, we have a tremendous challenge ahead of us. We will immediately begin executive interviews with CEO, CFO, COO, and CIOs across all 23 member organizations. In addition, an enormous amount of financial data will be gathered from the various NGO deputies and directors. The task and deadline at hand seems insurmountable, but with a little wherewithal and hope I think this could end up being the challenge of a lifetime.

Oh yeah… I need mention – they are moving us to Buenos Aires Argentina for the duration of the assessment.

Hola, me llamo Justin!