
Milimo Project
Milimo is a USAID-funded project whose goal is "To strengthen the capacity of local institutions to deliver on their mandates, to help them in designing and implementing social behavioural change interventions using local resources whilst increasing financial independence and self-reliance."
Why is this called Milimo?
Literal meaning
Milimo literary means special tree logs that form a structure of and holds a local Malawian mud house
These logs are strong, straight, and lasting
Together, they meaningfully contribute their efforts towards making the mud house strong and resilient.
Symbolic meaning:
Milimo Activity seeks to build the capacity of local NGOs and community institutions/groups so they can effectively work together to solve community challenges
Through promoting local contribution, we can enhance self-reliance
By embracing different voices and opinions in problem-solving, we can strengthen our energy against shocks and tragedies.
Project Goal
To strengthen the capacity of local institutions to deliver on their mandates, to help them in designing and implementing social behavioral change interventions using local resources whilst increasing financial independence and self-reliance.
Specific Objectives
To determine and capitalize on capacities of local institutions that are critical to set a model for transformative development change
To strengthen community mobilization skills of local NGOs and community institutions to effectively lead and sustain their own development
To strengthen the institutional capacity of CSOs in key organizational domains to effectively implement their own and donor-funded activities; and
To strengthen the capacity of CRECCOM to be a local OCD provider for local CSOs requiring such service through a small fee for service.
Rationale
Many local CSOs in Malawi struggle with limited institutional capacity, which hinders their ability to achieve their full potential
Some local CSOs have strategic plans of some sort but are not often aligned to community priorities or fail to be operationalized due to resource constraints
Some CSOs have management structures in place, but often do not consistently follow sound governance practices.
Majority of communities are not sufficiently resilient to a sundry of shocks.
Capacity Development Approach
A combination of Capacity 1.0 approach (using the Participatory Organization Development Assessment [PODA] tool) and Capacity 2.0 approach (using CRECCOM’s award-winning Social Mobilization model) to support community-driven development that benefits the community, including the marginalized.
Design Research and Learning (coined as ‘Tepetepe’ by CRECCOM) approach will as well be critical to the success of Milimo Activity.
Again, research study will be undertaken to understand change pathways around self-reliance
Target Groups
6 Selected Local NGOs (including 3 Limodzi NGO partners)
Community institutions such as Traditional Leaders, CBOs, Youth and women groups, village forums, cultural institutions, tribal institutions, faith-based organizations, CRECOMEX, and other community groups.
Expected Results
Capacities of local institutions that are critical to set a model for transformative development change determined and capitalized.
Strengthened community mobilization capacity of local NGOs and community institutions to effectively lead and sustain their own development
Strengthened institutional capacity of CSOs in key organizational domains to effectively implement their own and donor-funded activities
Strengthened capacity of CRECCOM to be a local OCD provider for local CSOs requiring such service through a small fee for service.
Power in Numbers
1.7 M
Funding Amount ($)
5
Coverage (per district)
Estimated Project Outreach
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