With many local organisations struggling to grow beyond passion and good intentions, the Forum for AIDS Counselling and Training (FACT-Malawi) has stepped in to address what it calls “critical gaps” in both organisational capacity and access to essential health services.
The organisation will host an Organisation Development and Management Workshop on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at KUHeS in Blantyre, aiming not only to bridge the gap in leadership and organisational skills but also to raise funds for its planned expansion into a full-service community clinic.
According to FACT Director Pemphero Mphande, the organisation has consistently received inquiries from individuals seeking guidance on funding, planning, and effective management, which he described as clear evidence of a widespread gap in practical knowledge that continues to limit the potential impact of many promising grassroots initiatives.
“Some people feel like there are several needs in their communities that they want to solve through setting up organisations. But they won’t have the maximum impact of solving those social needs if they are not doing it properly,” said Mphande. “This workshop offers expertise, making it easier and possible for them to better save their communities.”
The Director added that beyond skills and knowledge, FACT is also responding to a lack of networking opportunities among local change-makers. He said, many leaders work in isolation and are rarely given space to connect, collaborate, or learn from others in similar fields.
Meanwhile, the organisation, which currently offers free HIV testing and referrals, is expanding its healthcare mission as it seeks to establish a full-service community clinic to provide treatment for HIV, STIs, and family planning services.
“We want to move beyond testing. People need treatment, and they need it close to home,” Mphande said. “This clinic will be a game-changer not just for HIV, but for broader reproductive and sexual health.”
The organisation is currently raising K76 million for the project.
