Capacity Building Project

In recent times, funders have recognised the significance of enhancing the organisational capacity of their grantees. The new thinking behind this, is that it is effective organisations, which are better placed to fulfill their mission and maximize their human and financial resources. Therefore, investing in the organisational capacity of grantees is increasingly seen as critical to achieving required results. In addition to providing grants, AWDF is keen to support the work of grantee partners through a newly established Capacity Building Unit.

The ability of an organisation to make an impact on its chosen area of work depends largely on how it can manage its internal and external dynamics of growth and development. This covers areas such as an organisation’s structure, staff development, governance, management, financial management, administrative systems, evaluation mechanisms, networking capacities and fundraising opportunities. These are challenges that all organisations face. African women’s organisations work in an environment which makes their work even more challenging – political uncertainty, economic decline, conflict, dealing with the impact of HIV/AIDS and the rising tide of religious and political conservatism.

As the spaces within which civil society organisations operate become more difficult to navigate, it becomes increasingly important to have viable organisations with effective leadership. Civil society organisations also serve as a strong recruitment ground for future leaders. Women’s organisations in particular have the potential to produce well-grounded leaders, through their many awareness raising, self-esteem, inter-generational and capacity building programs. If these organisations are weak, the opportunities are wasted. Different organizations have varied approaches to issues of capacity building, the ultimate aim of which has always been to build the capacities of organizations so as to maximize social impact. Therefore, capacity building is necessary for women’s organisations to ensure that they are able to achieve their goals and visions.

The AWDF Capacity Building Unit supports the work of AWDF grantee organisations to enable them enhance their institutional capacity through a variety of strategies as follows:

1. Grant-making for Capacity Building: AWDF awards grants to organisations specifically for capacity building. Such grants can be used for programs or activities which will enable the grantee build capacity in a particular area or acquire needed skills. Examples include grants for board and staff development, strategic planning, developing fundraising strategies, program evaluations, general support grants, developing the use of ICTs, etc.

2. Training Programs: Many grantees have expressed an interest in training staff and board members in various organisational management skills such as fundraising and communications, financial management and project management. AWDF plans to organise at least two training workshops over a period of two years, which will enable at least forty grantee organisations to benefit from training. In addition to the training programs, AWDF will commission basic Good Practice booklets on a variety of topics that grantee organisations have consistently asked for help with. The booklets will be distributed free to all grantee partners.

3. Management Assistance: There are some grantees who require specialist support to help them review complex projects, conduct evaluations, expand existing activities, etc. AWDF Program Staff have a referral system to enable grantees access the services of qualified persons who can assist, and whose services can be paid for with a capacity building grant from AWDF.

4. Peer Learning: A critical need for African women’s organisations is to learn from each other and share skills and expertise. The AWDF wants to encourage a culture of partnerships and collaborations within the women’s movement in Africa, and we see this as an important capacity building tool. AWDF will provide grants specifically for learning and exchanges. For example, if a women’s organisation in Ghana wants to know how to develop a project to support women in politics in that country, they can work with a group of women in Zimbabwe who have set up a Parliamentary Support Unit for Women in Parliament.

For further information contact:

The Program Officer
Capacity Building Unit,
25 Yiyiwa Street, Achimota Forest, Abelekpe,
Accra, Ghana.

cbu@awdf.org
or you can use our online contact form available from here