For the children’s projects, we work together with European partners and local partners in the south of Belgium. We believe their relevant experience and knowledge of the local cultures can increase the impact of a project. Furthermore we increasingly believe in the principle of outsourcing. We outsource tasks that do not fit our core competencies to third parties who are screened on their professional experience and know-how but above all, on their field experience in the area.

We deliberately and carefully choose relatively small-scale projects that fight specific injustices that harm children.

For selecting our partners, we focus on efficiency and transparency of the operation and finances, and ‘good practices’ concerning personnel management and local legislation. Moreover we attach great importance to the impact achieved by our partner and how our partner measures its impact and evaluates its operation/success. We also look to the proactive aspect in approaching issues; where possible we find partners that act in advance of a problem so as to avoid it.

We expect our partners to have a clear vision and mission and to pass those through its whole operation to execute a long term plan: one that has a financial, organizational and structural vision that guarantees the future of the organization.

Transparent communication, regular reporting, participation and visiting rights are key requirements when negotiating collaboration. We believe in regular and direct contact with all parties involved, including the local partner and the population. For this reason we endeavour to visit our projects at least once a year to talk to people and assess progress in the field, and to have meetings and discussions with the local NGO and if necessary, talk to government agencies.

In following up projects Solid is expanding its current team with people who have specific knowledge/expertise depending on the project. These new members of our team do not have to be wholly a part of Solid but can be mobilized for projects/activities as freelance workers.