SA-CIBIS: Capacity and Institutional Building
Building strong, well-run organisations of persons with disabilities — so they can advocate, deliver, and lead with lasting effect.
Many OPDs across Southern Africa struggle to sustain themselves. Donor funding has been shrinking for years. Staff capacity is thin. Governance structures are often weak. Without a strong base, OPDs cannot advocate, deliver programmes, or hold governments to account. SA-CIBIS was built to change that.
Institutional governance
Financial management
Human resources
Resource mobilisation
- 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 — covering 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.
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 developing capacity assessment tools.
Strong OPDs are the backbone of disability rights work. Without them, advocacy loses its voice at the national level. SA-CIBIS exists to build that strength where it matters most.