Advisory Services

Elevate works with local communities and partnership organisations on a regular basis. We understand local context, culture and customs in our areas of operation. Simultaneously we have ties to international organisations and individuals who understand how to operate effectively in the humanitarian space. We engage, connect and collaborate.  

Elevate collaborates with and has built a network of experts in all areas related to operational safety and security. Our ability to engage international experts as well as to draw on our experienced facilitation team allows us to gather first-hand intelligence when it comes to preparing and planning for any eventualities that your organisation may face. Depending on the level of risk we advise on the options for your organisation, including outsourcing specific risk management components to third parties to ensure occupational health and safety.  

We understand how challenging it can be to effectively move in a rural developing context. Civil unrest, recent disasters and previous armed conflicts can certainly contribute to logistical nightmares for your organisation. Elevate has first-hand experience in numerous countries which encompasses road/air/water transport as well as acquiring reasonable accommodation options for you and your staff. For specific services, we also provide community stay and hosting options that allow your organisation to experience local life first-hand.  

When your organisation contemplates conducting humanitarian programming to achieve a specific impact, the selection of operational sites can be challenging. We understand that impactful humanitarian programming depends on a deep understanding of and connection to the area of operation. As an organisation, you may choose to utilise our knowledge and the Elevate network to identify the most suitable area of operation for your specific project. Geopolitical, local, safety, environmental, security, infrastructure, logistic and cultural aspects are some of the elements your organisation may want to consider. At Elevate we have the connections and insights that can support you and your organisation to make the right choice from the start.  

We understand the emotional and physical challenges that come with operating in a foreign, challenging humanitarian context. People with travel experience would understand that even choosing the wrong local restaurant can make the difference between a visit to the local tourist attraction or a visit to a rural health facility. The Elevate network is well-established and allows you to fact-check online information with local on-site knowledge to identify the best options for you and your team when it comes to food and beverages.  

From an emotional perspective, we understand culture shock and reverse culture shock. Operating in a challenging context can, and often does, have a toll on us. The Elevate team has experienced these challenges first-hand and designed, implemented and evaluated the most suitable support strategies. We operate with specialised global support services and draw on a team of well-experienced facilitators who are capable of pre-emptively putting strategies in place that suit your organisational needs.  

Understanding local context, identifying humanitarian needs and creating win-win situations is at the core of what Elevate does. We pride ourselves on our ability to work effectively with local communities and international humanitarian organisations to create two-way learning opportunities. Our facilitation team have decades of experience in key disciplines such as human-centred design, design thinking, localisation and systems thinking. Knowing how to navigate the challenges of humanitarian programming is what we do. It is who we are. We are happy to help and share our experiences, skills and knowledge.