BasicNeeds is in the process of making a structural transition from a set of line managed programmes in seven countries to a network of independently run and collectively monitored organisations implementing the BasicNeeds Model for Mental Health and Development. A number of factors are driving this change, in particular expanded reach, financial sustainability, continued quality and local leadership.

Reach: Our Strategic Framework aims to reach half a million people by 2013 in response to the extraordinary demand coming from people and agencies on the ground. In growing the organisation, we are intent to avoid creating an unwieldy central bureaucracy.

Sustainability: By making our programmes independent, we will open the doors to a vast new market of funders, while enabling the continued funding of our long-term supporters.

Quality: Creating autonomous organisations carries with it the risk of inconsistent quality and damage to the BasicNeeds brand. In theory, organisations could deviate from our stated mission, or choose to emphasise only one aspect of the Model to the exclusion of another. We have prided ourselves to date on a record of implementing quality programmes. Safe guarding the quality of BasicNeeds' work is therefore a focal point of the transition.

Leadership: Our programmes have demonstrated strong skills in operation and delivery for over ten years, so the timing is rip for them to develop towards independence. BasicNeeds now has over 80 competent overseas staff who are locals working in their country of origin. It is in keeping our promotion of local capacity that programme managers become executive directors of their own independent organisations.