Organizational Capacity Development for Change

Presenter: Amita Mehrotra, FHI 360

AIDS 2012 - Turning the Tide Together

Introduction and Overview

New Partners Initiative Technical Assistance Program (NPI)– Project Dates: July 2007 – July 2012– Location: 13 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, Haiti and

Vietnam– Grantees: 29 organizations, mix of FBOs, CBOs and NGOs

both indigenous and US-based– Goal: Improve overall capacity of NPI grantees (who

receive first time funding directly from USAID) to expand the reach of HIV prevention, care and support in country

Capacity Building Operating Model

• Grantees funded directly through USAID/Washington

• Technical assistance provided in parallel to funding• FHI 360’s role to provide technical assistance only,

in both organizational development and technical areas

• Methods included cohort trainings, one-to-one technical assistance, south-to-south exchanges of information

Results: Perceptions of Level of Organizational Functioning from Initial to Final Self-Assessments (n=27)

Mature43%

Expanding38%

Develop-ing10%

Beginning10%

Close-out AssessmentInitial Assessment

Beginning22%

Developing41%

Expanding26%

Mature11%

Results

• Collectively, grantees showed a 2% to 14% improvement across domains

• 23 grantees secured a total of $22,425,638 in new funding

Initial Assessment Close-out Assessment

48% of grantees had and used a strategic plan to guide operations

87% of grantees have and use a strategic plan to guide operations

35% had a manual to guide travel, procurement, and inventory

91% have and use a manual to guide travel, procurement, and inventory

21% conducted staff performance assessments routinely

87% conducted staff performance assessments at least annually

48% had guidelines for financial management

96% have and use a manual to guide financial management

Challenges and Benefits of the Model

Benefits• Dedicated focus on capacity

strengthening• Allowed for a “jump start”

for future funding for organizations prepared to capitalize

• Partnerships and linkages throughout cohorts and communities

Challenges• Large resources input

required• Absorption capacity of local

organizations• Sustainability post program• Parallel model requires

strong relationship building with grantee

• End purpose of capacity strengthening?