PSO
PSO is an umbrella organisation for capacity building of civil society organisations in developing countries. The process that local organisations in developing countries go through to increase and improve their capabilities is known as 'capacity building'. This enables them to carry out their main tasks (primary processes), solve problems, define (and achieve) their aims, without further external assistance.
PSO works together with private Dutch organisations. Knowledge development and financing of capacity building activities are the main themes, but these activities focus on strengthening the capacity of local organisations in developing countries. PSO's 'added value' concerns improving the quality of this collaboration.
The relationship between PSO and the developing countries occurs via private Dutch organisations, which request PSO to deploy development staff in the countries concerned. PSO is currently changing from its traditional role as a temporary staff agency for development workers into a more modern umbrella organisation for its members. There are currently 41 organisations listed as PSO members.
PSO currently has around 30 staff working at its main office in The Hague, and around 700 development workers are sent into the field every year. These staff are all paid by PSO, which annually receives around 25 million euro from the Dutch government to fund these development cooperation activities.