Analysis of institutional capacity gaps of local health CSOs in Kenya: Challenges and lessons learnt

1. Analysis of institutional capacity gaps of
local health CSOs in Kenya;
Challenges and Lessons learned
Author: Purity Njagi
Presenter: Henry Kilonzo
FANIKISHA Institutional Strengthening Project 1

2. Back ground
• Goal: Sustained improvement in the health and well-being
of all Kenyans
• Aim: to ensure and sustain CSO contribution in the
health sector
• Target: 10 national-level CSOs and their affiliates
 Expected results;
 Strengthen leadership, management, and governance of
CSOs
 Increase access and use of quality data for evidence-based
decision making
 Improve quality of institutional strengthening for CSOs
FANIKISHA Institutional Strengthening Project 2

3. Description of context
• The growth of CSOs in Kenya has been very rapid
• A significant proportion of community health grants
have been channeled through international CSOs
• Why international NGOs?
• Capacity of the local CSOs remains low
• Weak national coordination and regulation structures
for CSOs
• Organisational capacity is a key eligibility criterion for
funding to local CSOs.
FANIKISHA Institutional Strengthening Project 3

4. Approaches adopted
FANIKISHA Institutional Strengthening Project 4

5. Methodology used;
FANIKISHA Institutional Strengthening Project 5

6. Click to edit
CSO Scoring Master
Matrix style
title
Score Level Definition
Score 1: The CSO does not have the relevant tool and/or function in
this subcategory
Score 2: The CSO has a tool and/or function but does not meet the
desired quality or it is incomplete – whether applied or not
Score 3: The CSO has the desired tool or function, is complete, is of
good quality but is not applied at all or consistently to
support the CSO institutional processes.
Score 4: The CSO has a tool or function, is complete, is of good quality
and is applied consistently to carry out the CSO institutional
processes. This is the desired standard for the subcategory
FANIKISHA Institutional Strengthening Project 6

7. Findings
• The assessment revealed critical capacity gaps
that require strengthening
• Institutional strength varied amongst CSOs
and across the 10 capacity categories.
• Seven CSOs demonstrated overall
satisfactory capacity, while six CSOs
demonstrated low capacity.
• Grant management emerged as the weakest;
where all CSOs scored 1 or 2.
FANIKISHA Institutional Strengthening Project 7

8. Challenges and counter-strategies
employed
Challenges Counter strategies
CSOs perception on capacity Held pre- assessment meeting to manage
assessments as a selection expectations and clarify objectives of the
criteria Assessment
Divergent views between staff FANIKISHA technical advisors were present
and management on capacity to provide technical guidance on the
status expected standard
CSOs overrating their capacity Onsite review of documents and systems
provided tangible evidence to guide on the
actual gaps
Lack of disclosure in presence of Assurance to all participants of the need
key stakeholders. for confidentially on the process and any
information disclosed
FANIKISHA Institutional Strengthening Project 8

9. Evidence of success and
achievements
• Accelerated performance
by CSOs, as some “This is an honest evaluation. We have heard comments in
“This is an honest evaluation. We have heard comments in
commenced the past from members saying NEPHAK does not have
the past from members saying NEPHAK does not have
adequate capacity. Now we have the confirmation. We
adequate capacity. Now we have the confirmation. We
implementation of the OCA will work to fill the gaps identified and also move this to
will work to fill the gaps identified and also move this to
recommendations prior to our constituent community levels.”
our constituent community levels.”
---Rahab Mwaniki, Resource Mobilization Manager,
---Rahab Mwaniki, Resource Mobilization Manager,
award NEPHAK
NEPHAK
“This process has been aagreat learning for
“This process has been great learning for
us. …………………….. ……..which has been very
us. …………………….. ……..which has been very “After we concluded the organizational capacity
“After we concluded the organizational capacity
comprehensive all the way from systems
comprehensive all the way from systems assessment with FANIKISHA, we immediately
assessment with FANIKISHA, we immediately
assessment and the final discussions on our
assessment and the final discussions on our developed aaresource mobilization strategy, which
developed resource mobilization strategy, which
organization’s capacity. Even ififwe are not
organization’s capacity. Even we are not is one of the key gaps that we identified during the
is one of the key gaps that we identified during the
selected to partner with FANIKISHA, we will
selected to partner with FANIKISHA, we will process.”
process.”
definitely address the gaps that you have
definitely address the gaps that you have
helped us identify.”
helped us identify.”
Philip Waweru, Executive Director,
Philip Waweru, Executive Director,
-- Wilfred Owuor,
-- Wilfred Owuor, National Organization of Peer Educators
National Organization of Peer Educators
CEO of Omega Foundation, Kisumu
CEO of Omega Foundation, Kisumu (NOPE)
(NOPE)
FANIKISHA Institutional Strengthening Project 9

10. Lessons learnt
• Engaging and participation of stakeholders
ensured objectivity in the assessment
• Leveraged resources as stakeholders were
made aware of existing capacity
• The approach stimulated reflection, learning,
and dialogue among CSO staff
• The approach ensures gaps and opportunities
are examined, and ideas for addressing them
generated real time.
FANIKISHA Institutional Strengthening Project 10

11. Conclusion
• The OCA was a participatory tool designed
to assist CSOs to identify their strengths,
weaknesses and institutional strengthening
needs
• The participatory approach stimulated
ownership of the findings by all (staff,
management and board)
• The approach has facilitated positive uptake
of technical assistance and mentorship to
CSOs.
FANIKISHA Institutional Strengthening Project 11

12. Enabling Kenyan Civil
Society Organizations for
Lasting Health Impact
Funding was provided by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
(PEPFAR) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under
Cooperative Agreement AID-623-A-11-00029.
FANIKISHA Institutional Strengthening Project 12