Strengthening Organizational Capacity in Kenya, Malawi, and South Sudan

by Deirdre Church and Mona Bormet of CCIH, Evelyn Gathuru of the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK), Gift Werekhwe of the Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM), and Richard Guma of the Organization for People’s Empowerment and Needs (OPEN)

This article shares evidence that grantmakers’ investment in strengthening the organizational capacity of their implementing partners results in grantees with improved internal systems who are better positioned to obtain and execute future grant opportunities. The experience is from the Strengthening Community Health Outcomes through Positive Engagement (SCOPE) project, funded by USAID. The project reduces preventable maternal and child morbidity and mortality in Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, and South Sudan. World Relief (WR) is the prime grantee for the SCOPE Project and selected CCIH as a subgrantee to identify and monitor local partners in three SCOPE countries to work with private, faith-based organizations to promote SCOPE’s vision and goals during the first three years of the project. CCIH sub-partnered with CHAK, CHAM, and OPEN to implement this work in Kenya, Malawi, and South Sudan, respectively. This article highlights CCIH’s role in mobilizing and supporting the partners to conduct project activities and strengthen internal organizational capacity.