Civil society, a driver of social and health transformation
In 2024, L’Initiative stepped up its support to civil society organizations (CSOs), focusing on their structuring, legitimacy, and influence. It backs their efforts to play a meaningful role in decision-making processes – particularly within the Country Coordinating Mechanisms of the Global Fund. Through this engagement, L’Initiative promotes a more inclusive, equitable, and effective health governance, where civil society is fully integrated and recognized.
Strengthening agency and equipping community advocacy
Key actors in strengthening health systems, defending rights, and representing communities, civil society organizations (CSOs) receive support from L’Initiative through organizational assistance and capacity building. In addition, the SOFIA mechanism was created specifically for medium-sized organizations to provide them with structured support–technical, financial, and strategic–tailored to their contexts and priorities.
Why and how to embark on organizational strengthening?
This knowledge-sharing document was developed with seven Cameroonian civil society organizations that received technical assistance to conduct their organizational diagnosis and develop a strengthening plan. They share their experience: the challenges of the diagnostic phase, which serves as the starting point for more targeted improvements (strategy, governance, resource mobilization); their successes and the obstacles they encountered during implementation; and some practical peer-to-peer advice for associations looking to get started.
“For over a year, we collected data in 80 countries”
The RISE study – Representation, Inclusion, Sustainability, and Equity – highlights the opportunity to strengthen the functioning of Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs) and improve community engagement in the Global Fund partnership. Serge Douomong Yotta, Advocacy Director at Coalition PLUS and co-author of the RISE study, discusses the research, conducted with the support of L’Initiative.
RISE Study: Community engagement in the Global Fund’s CCMs
At the heart of the Global Fund model, Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs) ensure inclusive governance by involving all stakeholders in strategic decision-making. However, their performance varies across contexts. The RISE study highlights their key role and identifies levers to strengthen community engagement, with a focus on enhanced collaboration.
