WESSA Phase 1 report to HHCT_28.10.2021

Over 64 years old

55-64 years

45-54 years

35-44 years

<34 years old

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Active vol unteers = EC05 Supporters

Fee-paying members

Social media fol lowers

Figure 7. Age distribution of WESSA members (orange, N=717); social media followers (blue, sample=118) and WESSA supporters = EC05 membership category (grey, N=649). Horizontal axis in percentages • There is a perception amongst some (influential) volunteers and NGO collaborators that WESSA is under-performing and not achieving its full potential in mobilizing public participation in caring for the Earth • Many of the regional, friends’ groups and branch leaders feel uninformed and unguided o They therefore have unrealistic expectations of the level of support they can expect from WESSA Corporate • Clients tend to see WESSA as a service provider and implementer to achieve their objectives. While this is aligned with WESSA's existing vision ‘to be a highly effective implementer’, it is less compatible with stakeholders' expectations of WESSA as a champion of the environment • WESSA is largely absent in policy debates and consultative forums and therefore has little policy influence • Other NGOs are confused about who to engage or collaborate with in WESSA and how to do it • Beneficiaries, learners and interns tend to see themselves as recipients, not contributors or future members • Beneficiaries of WESSA’s employment and education are not absorbed into the membership structure to continue as ambassadors, volunteers and future WESSA office bearers • Harnessing, supporting and channeling members is a costly, net loss exercise in the current context, where both numbers and fees are low o With a few exceptions, membership organizations globally are in decline

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