Unlike many developmental organizations and NGOs, CEN feels the development process can be best advanced by focusing on certain core areas of competency, and assembling and managing a team of partnerships with other organizations which have demonstrated ability to execute best practice solutions through particular geographic, technical or discipline specialization. This approach permits the delivery of a comprehensive development solution without the waste associated with unnecessary duplication of skills, infrastructure, and overhead. Scarce resources shouldn’t be spent on building an organization but rather to address the development need itself. We should not recreate the wheel when there are others who have already gone through a very steep learning curve to get where they are.

In the for-profit world, for example, most successful companies figure out what their core competencies are and then outsource (or partner with other orgs) for the rest. Microsoft doesn’t run manufacturing for most of the product or even handle certain areas of product development, support, and marketing; they farm this out to very skilled partners. Becoming a specialist in all areas and competencies is a wasteful use of resources, if other competent organizations are available. These partners can be performing the function at a lower cost and execute better, due to greater expertise.

The following are CEN core areas of strength:

• A keen appreciation of the complexities of the causes of poverty and interdependencies required for sustainable economic development
• Expertise in helping individuals with low education levels understand and put information to use to address development challenges
• A strategic vision and overall leadership for the program
• Experience with ICT and Renewable Energies
• Knowledge of critical elements of product and market development cycle
• Ability to access and apply best practices from around the world, with particular knowledge and expertise of Brazil, India, and South Africa.
• An expanding network of best practice partners throughout the world which can be tapped to create comprehensive solutions for a wide variety of developmental needs.
• A growing network of partnerships in Brazil, as well as a growing knowledge of how to get things done in Brazil, particularly in the Amazon.
• Management of virtual teams and overall projects
• A growing understanding of the process for securing funding within the U.S.