Building Capacities, Changing LivesBuilding Capacities, Changing Lives

What Makes Institutional Strengthening Work: NOPE’s Experience

Name of Presenter: Grace Gitau-NOPE

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Presentation Outline Background information of the Organization The Current Scope of the Organization Presentation objectives Institutional Strengthening Background Program Description/Methodology Achievements Lessons Learnt Challenges Recommendations

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NOPE’s Background

• Inception: 2000• Registration:2001• International Mandate: 2007• NOPE Uganda Registration: 2013• Mission: “To build capacity of communities and

organisations to deliver quality health and social services”

• Vision: “A world with healthy communities and sustained social development”

• Geographical scope: 32 out of 47 Counties in Kenya & 3 regions in Uganda

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Objectives

To share on NOPE’s Institutional Strengthening

experience

To share on key achievements in Institutional

Strengthening as Civil Society Organization and as

a Sub-Grantor

To share on Institutional Strengthening strategies

To share on key considerations for the success of an

Institutional Strengthening project

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NOPE’s Institutional Strengthening (IS)Background

12 years of experience cumulative IS support spearheaded by: FHI360 John Snow Inc. USAID FANIKISHA

Institutional Strengthening Categories Leadership and Governance Finance Planning and Management Human Resource & Change Management Project Management IS Capacity

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NOPE’s Institutional Strengthening (IS)Background

Institutional Strengthening Categories Advocacy, Networking and Alliance Building Organizational Planning and Resource Mobilization Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning Communications, Information Technology and

Records Management Grants and Sub-grants Management

Under APHIA II &APHIA plus->30 partners in Technical Assistance; NPI-sub-granted 3 partners-HWWK, ICL(A) & KASH; under FANIKISHA-8 affiliates in South Nyanza, Upper Eastern and Central Regions

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Program Description

Pre- assessment Phase Review of Organizational Capacity Assessment Tools

(OCAT) Communication to departmental heads on OCA

Assessment Phase OCA administered by departmental heads Involves Assessment, Scoring and Action

Identification; Plenary Score Review and Prioritization; Action Planning; Action Planning Review and; Follow Up.

`Post-Assessment Phase Development of IS plan and action plan budget

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IS Monitoring and Evaluation

Quarterly Review Meetings/feedback forums Document verification Evaluation: annual repeat OCAs

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Key Achievements

Development of:•Board Policy and Constitution•NOPE’s 2014/2019 Strategic Plan•Resource Mobilization Strategy 2014/2019•Finance and Admin Manual•Procurement Policy=improved procurement policy•Institutional M&E Framework and KMS•NOPE’s dashboard for performance•HR and Change Management Policy

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Key Achievements

Development of:Communications StrategyAdvocacy StrategyProject Cycle Management GuidelinesSub-grant Management PolicyIS Strategy

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Other Achievements

Improved HR and Financial Management Enhanced board performance

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What Works In IS?

OCA is a mirror Distribution of duties in SMT and MLM Open learning from peers Dedication from staff and management Allocation of Project Monitors to IS Partners Constitution of mentorship teams based on

competence Monthly IS review meetings Use of CSO Portal for procurement of consultants

& relevant resources

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Lessons Learnt

Institutional strengthening is an ongoing process

and calls for teamwork for guaranteed success.

All the 10 Institutional Strengthening categories are

equally important and should be accorded alike

attention

There is no coat that fits all, there is therefore need

to customize IS interventions on the institutional

needs.

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Challenges

• Lack of buy-in at the IS inception

• Too much workload during initial years

• Process is cost-intensive

• Lack of adherence to timelines by

vendors/consultants

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Recommendations

There is need to invest in staff and institutional capacity building for sustainability

There is need to utilize available resources in IS:CSO Portal, NPIConnect

IS is a continous process thus to be included in proposals during fundraising

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Resources

• www.csokenya.co.ke• NPIConnect• www.fundsforngos.org

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Acknowledgements

NOPE staff and affiliates USAID John Snow Inc. FANIKISHA Different consultants