The centres of excellence are tasked with implementing the four lever strategy, which focuses ITF work in key areas to build power for affiliates and regulate global capital.
An integral part of the strategy is that the ITF relies on its regional offices to encourage affiliate engagement and ownership to ensure campaign-based outcomes.
ITF assistant general secretary Rob Johnston facilitated the Singapore meeting. He explained: “The Asia Pacific sub-regional office leads met to develop a consistent strategy following the establishment of a number of centres of excellence across the region. Each one has a specific focus designed to assist in the delivery of four levers while reflecting the needs of affiliates on the ground.”
The meeting set performance-related goals for each of the Asia Pacific sub-regional offices and a framework to improve ITF national coordinating committees (NCCs) across the area. Rob Johnston concluded: "We have now established a clear format that is designed to empower our affiliates at national level. This is a two-way process, with the ITF secretariat providing experience and accountability to affiliate-led activities and ultimately ownership of ITF campaigns".
Since adopting the four levers approach the ITF has consistently grown, with approximately 30 per cent of that increase coming from the Asia Pacific region.
In addition to developing a model focused on empowering the NCCs, the participants also agreed a new communications strategy to bring more awareness of the work carried out in the region – particularly in the run up to the ITF congress due to be held in Singapore in 2018. Singapore is a key regional strategic hub as identified by the four levers strategy.
