In the NGO Consulting Lab course, Professor Ieva Jakobsone Bellomi motivates students to approach global governance with passion, humility, and open-mindedness. Professor Jakobsone Bellomi not only focuses on assessing NGOs’ work that promote the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but also directly involves students in developing a global awareness on social and environmental issues, as students are able to exercise active listening through open-minded discussions.
As the founder of the NGO #esiLV with over a decade of expertise in economic and commercial public diplomacy across Europe, Russia, the United Kingdom, and China, Professor Jakobsone Bellomi believes that she can teach students how to successfully contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By fostering constructive-argumentative feedback and discussions, she cultivates an environment that encourages meaningful dialogue and critical feedback, empowering students to make a purposeful and lasting impact. One example of the work carried out by Professor Jakobsone Bellomi and #esiLV is She Rebuilds the World (SRW), a women’s economic empowerment project conceived of and implemented with funding from the Latvian government under its development cooperation initiatives. The project currently operates in Africa and will extend to Ukraine over the next two years.
About the Course
Professor Jakobsone Bellomi’s NGO Consulting Lab course adopts a holistic approach in its quest to uncover how to mainstream human rights, gender equity, diversity and environmental sustainability in the work of NGOs. The first half of the course focuses on the analysis of the current challenges of global governance, the role of NGOs, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through the discussion of case studies and the SDG frameworks, Professor Jakobsone Bellomi highlights that perspectives matter when dealing with global challenges. One of the topics of discussion is how issues differ between the Global North and the Global South, as well as how SDGs are interconnected.
In the second half of the course, students gain the tools necessary to bring their visions to life effectively and efficiently. Emphasis is placed on project development, resource mobilization, and leadership — key components for successfully launching and sustaining initiatives. The main objective for students is to prepare and present a comprehensive project: founding their own NGO aimed at addressing a global challenge within the SDG framework. This hands-on experience not only reinforces theoretical knowledge but also cultivates essential entrepreneurial and organizational skills needed to create meaningful and lasting social impact.
The Student Perspective
JCU alumna Bersabeh Mergia, from Ethiopia, talked about her experience as a student of the course. “Coming from a country with immense potential for social innovation and a strong appetite for both economic and social progress, I’ve long been inspired to explore the roles non-governmental organizations play in complementing state structures,” said Bersabeh. “Different from some theory-heavy classes in my Political Science major, the NGO Consulting Lab was hands-on and transformative. Rather than simply learning about systems and structures, I was engaging with them.”
Bersabeh added: “The semester-long project of developing a conceptual NGO from scratch forced me to sit with long-held thoughts I had bookmarked for someday. Through research, teamwork, and experimentation, I discovered that a 23-year-old soon-to-be graduate could build something meaningful. I realized that, with enough initiative and a solid foundation, I wasn’t too inexperienced, and my ideas weren’t too idealistic. Even though I’ve felt drawn to social impact work since my early school days, it was through this class that I began to clarify not just why I wanted to make a difference, but how and when I could begin doing so. While there’s still a long road ahead, this experience grounded my ambitions in real-life and gave them momentum.”
Professor Jakobsone Bellomi’s motivation to teach the course comes from her conviction that empathy and humility are essential: one must put themselves in others’ shoes to provide help that truly meets their needs. She emphasizes that active listening is crucial when addressing global challenges, which differ significantly across countries. She shared that, “What makes me a human being is having the opportunity to help change someone's life and leave a mark in the world.” Passionate about sharing her professional experience in business, diplomatic service, and now as the founder of her own NGO, she aims to guide and mentor students to become their best selves.
