What It Takes to Launch a Program in a Fragile Context

Understanding Fragility

Fragile contexts are often misunderstood. They’re not just conflict zones, and they’re not always places the media covers. Fragility can be spiritual, relational, political, or environmental.

At Pollina Group, we define fragility as any context where peace has been compromised — where trust is broken, resources are limited, or communities are recovering from disruption. These are the very places where wholistic empowerment can be most powerful, but they also require patience, care, and cultural sensitivity.

Foundational Practices

We don’t rush into any new location. We begin with a posture of listening and rely on God’s timing. Before any program begins, we walk through a multi-step process to discern whether we’re being called to partner with a particular place.

Prayerful Discernment

Our first step is always spiritual. We ask: is this a door God is opening? Are we being sent, or are we striving?

We involve our community in this discernment process, seeking wise counsel and listening deeply. We believe peacebuilding must be Spirit-led, not strategy-first.

Cultural Research + Listening

We invest time in understanding the history, values, and rhythms of the community. This includes listening to local leaders, faith communities, and women and youth already doing work on the ground.

Our goal is to enter with humility and honor what is already being cultivated—not to start from scratch.

Strategic Partnership Mapping

We don’t work alone. We map out potential collaborators, from community-based groups to mission-aligned NGOs. We ask: who is already trusted here? Who could we learn from?

Every partnership we consider must align with our values, especially around integrity, confidentiality, and relational work.

Logistical Preparation

Once we sense a clear call and see open doors, we begin preparing the infrastructure that will allow a program to thrive.

Secure and Ethical Operations

We evaluate risk, set up accountability systems, and prepare secure communication pathways. This ensures that we can work with integrity, especially in places where vulnerability is high.

Relational Groundwork

Before any formal work begins, we spend time building trust. This might look like attending local gatherings, hosting prayer meetings, or offering space for women and youth to share their stories.

We don't launch programs. We cultivate relationships that lead to programs.

Flexible Funding Strategy

Because every context is unique, we approach funding with flexibility. We often fund pilot stages through early partners while preparing for longer-term investment.

This ensures we don’t overcommit before we’ve earned trust—and gives partners the chance to be part of something deeply relational from the very beginning.

Ethical Presence: Our Commitment

We believe the way we show up matters more than how quickly we scale. Every program launch is an act of stewardship.

We move slowly, with intention. We protect the people we serve. We guard their stories. And we remain open to course correction at every step.

Help Us Build New Foundations

If you’re someone who values ethical, wholistic, and Spirit-led development, we invite you to get involved. Whether through prayer, funding, or partnership, you can be part of building peace where it’s needed most. Learn how to partner with us!