Frameworks, Policy & Governance
Turn a decision or commitment into a system people can follow
We design policies, frameworks, governance models and procedures that make organisational commitments clear and workable.
- A policy, framework, strategy or governance model
- Practical procedures and guidance
- Supporting tools
- An implementation plan
Commission this when.
This may involve building a new system, bringing existing policies into alignment or redesigning arrangements that no longer fit. We clarify what needs to happen, who is responsible, how decisions are made, how concerns are escalated and how implementation will be monitored and reviewed.
We design for the legal, linguistic, cultural and operational conditions in which the system will be used. For organisations working across countries or jurisdictions, we can develop shared standards alongside guidance for responsible local adaptation.
Any one of the following is reason enough to start a conversation.
You have made a commitment or decision but do not yet have a practical system for carrying it out.
Your policies exist but are outdated, contradictory, difficult to find or rarely used.
Roles, responsibilities, authority or decision-making routes are unclear.
You need a new policy, framework, procedure or governance model.
Organisational growth, restructuring or new partnerships have outpaced your existing systems.
You operate across countries or jurisdictions and need shared standards that can work in different contexts.
An assessment, incident or external requirement has revealed gaps that need to be addressed.
A board, funder, regulator or partner requires a clear and documented approach.
What you receive.
Depending on the agreed scope, your deliverables may include:
A policy, framework, strategy or governance model
Setting out commitments, standards, responsibilities and decision-making arrangements.
Practical procedures and guidance
Explaining how work is carried out, who is responsible, how decisions are made and what steps to follow.
Supporting tools
Such as templates, checklists, decision maps, manuals and reporting forms.
An implementation plan
Identifying priorities, responsibilities, timelines and resources needed to put the system into use.
Monitoring and review arrangements
To assess whether the system is working and keep it up to date.
Alignment with existing systems
Showing how the new work connects with your other policies, structures and obligations.
What this includes.
Most assignments draw on more than one of these.
Strategy, governance and organisational systems
- Organisational strategies
- Governance models
- Decision-making structures
- Roles and responsibilities
- Operational procedures and workflows
Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC)
Frameworks that connect oversight, risk management and compliance, with clear responsibilities, controls, reporting and review processes.
- Oversight
- Risk management
- Compliance
- Controls and reporting
- Review processes
Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
Frameworks that translate environmental, social and governance commitments into policies, practical actions, responsibilities and measures of progress.
- ESG commitments
- Policies
- Practical actions
- Responsibilities
- Measures of progress
Safeguarding and accountability
- Safeguarding and protection policies
- Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse
- Complaints and response mechanisms
- Accountability to affected populations
Preparedness and duty of care
Emergency preparedness, crisis response and duty of care frameworks, with practical arrangements for staff support, continuity and coordinated action.
- Emergency preparedness
- Crisis response
- Duty of care frameworks
- Staff support
- Continuity
Monitoring, evaluation and learning
Frameworks and tools for tracking progress, evaluating results, gathering feedback and using evidence to improve practice.
- Tracking progress
- Evaluating results
- Gathering feedback
- Using evidence to improve practice
Equitable partnerships and localisation
Partnership frameworks that clarify shared responsibilities, decision-making, resources and accountability, including approaches grounded in feminist and decolonial practice.
- Partnership frameworks
- Shared responsibilities
- Shared decision-making
- Resources and accountability
- Feminist and decolonial practice
Responsible innovation
Responsible AI policies and guidance for assessing and introducing new tools and ways of working, with clear boundaries, human oversight and accountability. We also review and align existing policies, so they work together, with fewer gaps, contradictions and duplicated requirements.
- Responsible AI policies
- Guidance on new tools
- New ways of working
- Human oversight
- Accountability
How we develop your systems.
Understand what is needed.
We review your existing arrangements, commitments and operating context to establish what needs to change and what already works.
Involve the people who will use them.
We work with those responsible for implementation and those affected by the system, so their experience informs its design.
Make responsibilities and processes clear.
We define who does what, how decisions are made and how work moves between people, teams and partners.
Design for your context.
We account for legal, linguistic, cultural, political, economic and operational conditions, including differences across countries and locations.
Test how it will work.
We use practical scenarios and feedback to check whether people can understand and follow the proposed arrangements, then refine them.
Prepare for implementation and review.
We identify the tools, resources and learning needed to put the system into practice, alongside arrangements for monitoring and updating it.
Working in your language
We work natively in English and Arabic across every service and at any scale: research design and fieldwork, policy drafting, training delivery, facilitation, and written deliverables.
We also work in French and Spanish on smaller assignments: workshops and training sessions, interviews and consultations, focused reviews, and translation and localisation review. This work is delivered by associates who work natively in those languages.
For large-scale work in French or Spanish, we will tell you where our capacity ends and help you structure the assignment accordingly. We have designed and facilitated consultations in English, Arabic and French across fourteen countries, so we know what this requires, and we do not take on work we cannot deliver to the same standard.
Where an assignment needs other languages, we can arrange capacity through our international network and will be explicit about what that adds in time and cost.
Selected work in practice.
A safeguarding system across four continents
A humanitarian organisation needed safeguarding arrangements that worked across different legal and operational contexts. CTDC developed a strengthened framework with locally appropriate response procedures, implementation guidance, training materials and tools for monitoring and review. The system remains in use and is updated through structured feedback.
Research & Assessment · Frameworks, Policy & Governance · Learning Design & Delivery · Advisory & Accompaniment
Connecting accountability, preparedness and duty of care
A global health organisation needed its policies to work together. CTDC developed an Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) framework and a preparedness framework, reviewed related safeguarding and duty of care policies, and aligned them into a coordinated system.
Frameworks, Policy & Governance · Research & Assessment
Governance for a global advocacy network
A global advocacy network needed clear arrangements for member participation, board oversight and day-to-day delivery. CTDC developed several governance options, explored their implications with the board and turned the agreed model into a practical governance guide.
Frameworks, Policy & Governance · Facilitation & Conflict Work
Frequently asked questions.
Often applied to
Discuss a policy or framework.
You may need one document updated or several systems designed to work together. Tell us what you want to put in place, what already exists and any requirements or deadlines. We will help you clarify the scope.
