Malawi: Operating a capacity-building sub-grant program to scale-up HIV interventions

From 2006 to 2008, Plan Malawi (an international, humanitarian private organization) received an umbrella grant from the Malawi National AIDS Commission. This grant, funded by the Global Fund, aimed to (a) scale up HIV and AIDS interventions thru programs implemented by community organizations and local NGOs and (b) build the technical, management and financial capacity of these implementers. Plan Malawi operated this grant in the Kasungu, M'mbelwa and Mzuzu districts with a total of 1.1 million people.

Over 500 proposals from CBOs, FBOs and Local NGOs were received by Plan Malawi. About 43% (214) of them were approved, representing $1,409,235. Almost 95% or 203 of community based groups receiving grants successfully finished them by the program's end (September 2008). Major aggregate outputs were: (a) 4,500 youth received training in life skills through 36 Youth Clubs; (b) 760 registered AIDS and TB patients received support from 26 care groups; (c) 3000 OVCs and 450 PLWAs received psychosocial support from 670 care providers; (d) Over 1250 OVCs continued secondary school education and (d) 950 households received income generation activities.

Significant lessons learned included (1) There is need for comprehensive guidelines to regulate the formation, registration, operation and monitoring of CBOs. (2) Building the capacity of CBOs in key areas (proposal development, financial management, procurement procedures and monitoring and evaluation) helps the delivery of projects. (3) CBOs staffed by beneficiaries have higher chances of being effective and efficient than those managed by non beneficiaries.