Capacity building for OPDs: the SA-CIBIS programme
SA-CIBIS builds strong, well-run organisations of persons with disabilities. They can then advocate, deliver and lead with lasting effect.
Capacity building for OPDs is urgent. Many organisations of persons with disabilities across Southern Africa struggle to sustain themselves. Donor funding has shrunk for years. Staff capacity is thin. Governance is often weak. Without a strong base, OPDs cannot advocate, run programmes or hold governments to account. SA-CIBIS was built to change that.
The programme supports our national affiliates and the SAFOD Secretariat in all 16 SADC Member States. It is one of our programmes.
Four core areas of capacity building for OPDs
- Institutional governance
- Financial management
- Human resources
- Resource mobilisation
Key activities for capacity building for OPDs
- Training of trainers in project management using the P3 Express method, for Secretariat staff and Regional Executive Council (REC) members.
- Workshops on fundraising and resource mobilisation for the Secretariat and national affiliates.
- One-on-one mentoring and technical support for affiliates on proposal writing and fundraising plans.
- Seed funding for affiliates to run their own fundraising events.
- Resource mobilisation training for nine affiliates across two rounds. It covered grant writing, fundraising events, online platforms, budgeting and visibility.
- Leadership and governance training for national federations in four countries and the REC.
- Quarterly REC meetings to provide strategic guidance and programme oversight.
Results of our capacity building
Progress made
Some affiliates, like NFPDN in Namibia, ran successful fundraising events with seed funding and hands-on mentoring.
Lessons learnt
Staff shortages and internal challenges slowed progress in some affiliates. SAFOD has used these lessons to improve its approach, including new capacity assessment tools.
Related work
Strong OPDs are the backbone of disability rights work. Without them, advocacy loses its voice at national level. SA-CIBIS exists to build that strength where it matters most.