PSP Zimbabwe Partnership Project: Local Partner Capacity Building
As part of its mandate, the Partnership Project provides capacity building assistance to grant recipient partners implementing New Life (post HIV test services), New Start (voluntary testing and counseling), HIV/AIDS Communications (BCC), and other program activities. The goal of this capacity building support is to localize technical capacity to implement activities by strengthening organizational sustainability. Expectations for grant partners to achieve organizational sustainability continue to be conditioned by the challenging economic landscape and labor market realities of Zimbabwe. The rising hyperinflation and economic destabilization mean that partners face very high costs in providing services and have little potential to recuperate costs. Sustainability of partner sites will be demonstrated by whether organizations identify new efficiencies, leverage partnerships and in-kind contributions, develop effective fund-raising strategies and diversify support from other donors.
The project’s capacity building assistance directly reinforces service delivery as provided by grant partners, while allowing partners to strengthen their overall institutional capacity. The Zimbabwe Partnership Project uses a multi-pronged and flexible approach to respond to the capacity building needs of partners. Abt Associates, together with Banyan Global, leads the project's local partner capacity building efforts. These activities are implemented in coordination with project partners Population Services International (PSI) and Family Health International (FHI).
In August 2007, the project successfully implemented the Building on Strengths workshop, providing training to 18 grant recipient partners in organizational development, finance and management training, and strategic planning. As part of this workshop, the project supported the development of individualized organizational development plans for each partner. Feedback to the workshop was very positive.
In December 2008, a follow-on management skills training program was conducted for 31 site managers drawn from 20 New Start and 12 New Life sites across the country. The course addressed managerial skills, knowledge and attitudinal needs among the managers and helped site managers to appreciate the core principles and practices of effective management and leadership. It broadly covered the following major themes:
- Management and its context
- Managerial effectiveness
- Managerial role and responsibilities
- Leadership responsibilities
- Communication techniques for managers
- Coordination and interpersonal skills/team work
Similar courses for other Partnership Fund grantees are planned.
On March 7th, the project hosted an “open forum on the coordination of capacity building,” which involved participants representing local and international organizations involved in capacity building efforts. The intention was to stimulate discussion and coordination on capacity building efforts to share lessons learned, tools, and reduce duplication of efforts. The forum was enthusiastically attended and stimulated lively discussions. The project has been given the mandate (by the group) to move forward with this process and the meeting has greatly enhanced the Partnership Project’s visibility as both a role player in the HIV/AIDS community and also in terms of facilitating linkages and integration.
