Capacity strengthening to sustain the HIV response

Across our HIV programming, FHI 360 has partnered with hundreds of local institutions that are involved in addressing the HIV epidemic so they can achieve their mission and fulfill their role in the HIV continuum of care.

Our capacity strengthening support ranges from strengthening internal management systems, to supporting diversification of funding, to optimizing technical programming and strategic information systems.

Local institutions are especially vulnerable to fluctuations in international funding for HIV, which continues to decrease. To enable these local partners to continue their critical role in HIV service delivery, we also work with them to identify sustainable financing options.

40+

Countries in which we have strengthened the capacity of local key population-led organizations.

30+

Local civil society organizations across 12 countries that have received direct USAID and PEPFAR funding with our support.

$26+ million

Raised by local partners, with FHI 360 support, from social enterprises, corporate social responsibility, grants and other mechanisms.

Our expertise and approaches

FHI 360’s capacity strengthening support, provided through global and bilateral donor-funded programs, aims to ensure that local partners can implement technically sound and consistently high-quality programming.

FHI 360 uses different models, including working with local civil society organizations through a traditional prime-sub relationship; providing technical assistance only to directly funded local partners; and strengthening the capacity of regional and local partners to become capacity strengtheners themselves.

A person in an orange work suit signs into a sheet of paper on a clipboard.

Providing technical assistance to local partners

FHI 360 works with civil society organizations before and after they obtain U.S. government funding. Our capacity strengthening approach is guided by four mutually reinforcing principles: (a) a focus on speed, scale, standards and sustainability; (b) customization according to local priorities and differentiated needs; (c) adaptive management; and (d) engagement of strong local support.

A woman smiles while seated at a sewing machine table.

Ensuring sustainable financing for local partners

Local partners contribute substantially to a country’s ability to implement solutions to address its HIV epidemic. FHI 360 aids these organizations in diversifying financing for their programming outside of traditional funding.

A test package is being handed from one woman to another. The FHI 360 logo and partner logos are visible on a banner in the background.

Supporting the transition of direct funding and implementation to capable local partners

To meet USAID and PEPFAR’s goals of providing direct funding to local partners and ensuring that programming is more locally led, we work closely with local partners to bolster their readiness to manage U.S. government funding.

  • Featured resources

    Resources for local partner transition and capacity strengthening

    Technical resources from the EpiC project, led by FHI 360, offer knowledge, tools and examples that can guide capacity strengthening and localization activities.
    Access the resources
    A young man smiles while handing out a rainbow keychain. He's surrounded by a group of young men.
  • Featured news story

    Opinion: 3 steps to bolster locally led HIV response

    Technical resources from the EpiC project, led by FHI 360, offer knowledge, tools and examples that can guide capacity strengthening and localization activities.
    Read the op-ed
    Two women laugh while one performs a finger prick HIV test on the other.
  • Featured story

    Local leaders rise to new heights with FHI 360’s support

    Meet the women taking the lead at three local partner organizations in Mozambique. FHI 360 handed responsibility for two major projects over to these organizations, recognizing that sustainable change requires putting local leadership and priorities first.
    Read the story
    A woman wearing a white polo shirt smiles for a portrait

Projects

Current projects

Through our projects, FHI 360 improves the capacity of our local partners to help them meet their goals.

Featured legacy projects

For more than two decades, FHI 360 has supported capacity strengthening for local partners involved in the HIV response.

Related stories from the EpiC project

Photo captions for images above, from top to bottom

“Our expertise and approaches”

Molatelo Boloka and her colleagues log their hours for the day at a construction site in Ga-Kibi, South Africa. After struggling in a difficult job market, Boloka completed a 12-month program through FHI 360’s Intensive Economic Strengthening program, a stream of the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) program, funded by USAID through PEPFAR. Photo credit: Nocwaka Sinxadi for FHI 360

Swaroopa received professional training through the EpiC project, led by FHI 360, to make jute bags in Hyderabad, India. Now a professional trainer, she has trained more than ten women living with HIV to make jute bags. Photo credit: Anita Khemka for FHI 360

Staff from the PASSOS project distribute literature about HIV testing in downtown Maputo, Mozambique. The project, led by FHI 360, aimed to reduce the spread of HIV among key and priority populations. Now, in the follow-on project PASSOS +, a former local partner is the prime implementing organization and FHI 360 is a subrecipient. Photo credit: Mbuto Machili for FHI 360

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