Nonprofits across Asia have long faced resource gaps and fragmented support systems. Through the ImpactCollab Capacity-Building Platform, AVPN, with support from the Ford Foundation, is addressing the emerging capacity-building needs that are critical for nonprofits to create lasting impact.
Building Foundations for Long-Term Impact
Across Asia, nonprofits are the first to respond to crises, such as poverty, inequality, and climate vulnerability. However, they consistently face structural barriers to growth. Most organisations struggle with limited access to long-term, locally relevant capacity building, which is too often treated as optional rather than essential.
As a response, AVPN — with support from Ford Foundation — has launched the ImpactCollab Capacity-Building Platform at the AVPN Global Conference 2025 in Hong Kong. Attended by over 80 participants, including funders, intermediaries, and nonprofits such as The Hongkong Jockey Club, Minderoo Foundation, Tanoto Foundation, Kopernik, YCAB Foundation, and The Bridgespan Group, the launch marked a milestone towards making capacity building more equitable and context-based.
Doing Capacity Building Differently
The ImpactCollab Capacity Building Platform is a collective platform where nonprofits, funders, and ecosystem partners have access to tailored and credible capacity support. As part of the AVPN’s ImpactCollab ecosystem, the platform has 28 vetted Capacity Building Providers (CBPs) who specialise in organisational development, leadership, MEL, finance, and integrating technology. The users can search by sector, market, type of service, or language, with the listings ranging from NGOs and consultancies, to design agencies and social enterprises. Covered in India and Indonesia, and supported in a range of languages — English, Hindi, and Bahasa Indonesia — the platform expands capacity building’s reach, context, and trust for many organisations across Asia.
The platform is founded on research conducted with more than 150 stakeholders in the ecosystem in India and Indonesia, providing important insights:
- Only 42% of nonprofits have been systematically provided with capacity-building support.
- 78% remain at basic or emerging levels of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems.
- Despite this, there continue to be persistent gaps in leadership succession planning, financial planning, and digital capability.
These conclusions resulted in a new approach, “doing capacity building differently”, guided by four key principles:
- Systemic, not episodic: Organise capacity building within philanthropic systems.
- Context is everything: Adapt solutions to local language, bandwidth, and culture realities.
- Trust matters: Build peer-driven, relational support instead of stand-alone interventions..
- Reflexive thinking: Bridge funder expectations and nonprofit realities through empathy and dialogue.
The ImpactCollab Capacity-Building Platform and Building a Movement of Collaboration
Rolled out now on ImpactCollab Capacity-Building Platform, the pilot version features 28 specially curated Capacity Building Providers (CBPs) — 17 in India and 11 in Indonesia — endorsed by AVPN and its members such as Danone Ecosystem, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, and DBS Foundation.
The platform is built around three core design pillars:
- Simplicity and Usability: Simple interface and easy navigation.
- Trust and Transparency: Peer reviews and recommendations by funders for every provider.
- Contextual Relevance: Country, industry, and organisational phase categorisation for better matching.
In the coming months, AVPN will expand the platform to reach 80+ providers and enhance integration with the broader ImpactCollab ecosystem. Ultimately, ImpactCollab’s Capacity-Building Platform is not just a directory but a growing ecosystem of collaboration, trust, and mutual learning. By connecting nonprofits, funders, and capacity builders, the platform empowers Asia’s social impact sector to make their foundations stronger towards sustainable change.
As the platform grows, AVPN invites funders, nonprofits, and ecosystem partners to collaborate with us in developing this movement. Whether through finding providers, sharing assets, or bringing expertise, your role will help build Asia’s capacity-building ecosystem for long-term success. Find out about the Platform today at our link.
