Global Partners For Development

GPFD STRIVES TO TAKE AN AUTHENTIC AND SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT IN IMPOVERISHED REGIONS OF EAST AFRICA. THAT MEANS SUPPORTING SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO MANAGE EDUCATION AND HEALTH INTERVENTIONS THAT GENERATE LASTING CHANGE FOR LOCAL PEOPLE.

GPFD BELIEVES COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IS THE KEY TO RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THAT LOCAL PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DRIVE CHANGE IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES. UNINTERRUPTED ACCESS TO EDUCATION IS KEY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY. THROUGH THE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN EDUCATION PROGRAM (CDE), GPFD MOBILIZES LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES TO DRIVE THE IDENTIFICATION, IMPLEMENTATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING OF PROJECTS THAT IMPACT STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND OTHER EDUCATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES. THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, GPFD IMPLEMENTED IMPROVED CLASSROOM SPACES, LATRINES, CLEAN WATER PROJECTS, HANDWASHING STATIONS, STUDENT AND TEACHER DORMITORIES, AND DESKS. CDE PLACES RESOURCES AND DECISION-MAKING POWER IN THE HANDS OF LOCAL PEOPLE THROUGH COMMUNITY MEETINGS ORGANIZED ON-SITE BY GPFD STAFF, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

GPFDS WASH (WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE) PROGRAM STRIVES TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE WASH SOLUTIONS ON A COMMUNITY LEVEL. THESE INTERVENTIONS ARE A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT AND THEY HAVE PROVEN TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH. WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY LACK OF CLEAN WATER ACCESS AS THEY ARE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING WATER FOR THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES AND SCHOOL-AGED GIRLS ARE FORCED TO ABANDON THEIR STUDIES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS DAILY TASK. BY FACILITATING ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER SOURCES, WASH ENCOURAGES A HIGHER SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RATE FOR GIRLS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVELIHOODS.

GPFD UNDERSTANDS CHANGE MAKERS IN OUR PARTNER COMMUNITIES ARE ALREADY DOING IMPORTANT WORK BUT REQUIRE ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT TO OPERATE MORE EFFECTIVELY AND ATTRACT ADDITIONAL FUNDING. THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS PROGRAM, WE PARTNER WITH GRASSROOTS EAST AFRICAN ORGANIZATIONS TO ACCELERATE LOCALLY-LED CHANGE BY ASSESSING AND STRENGTHENING ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH. WE WORK WITH SMALL COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSESS THEIR STRENGTHS, NEEDS, AND GOALS WHILE EVALUATING HOW GPFD CAN PROVIDE VALUE AND NEW SKILLS. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS PAST YEAR, WE WORKED ALONGSIDE LEADERS FROM ARKARIA VILLAGE IN TANZANIA TO SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF ARKARIA COMMUNITY CENTRE. WITH GPFD IN PARTNERSHIP, ARKARIA COMMUNITY CENTRE IS DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS AND HELPING PASTORALISTS GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO ADDRESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE CHALLENGES IMPACTING THEIR COMMUNITIES.