By Kate Kiama, She’s the First Director of Programs & Impact
Kate Kiama (center), STF’s Director of Programs & Impact, leads a session about our new game What Would You Do?: A Game to Inspire Healthy Relationships with mentors and leaders at our new partner Msichana Empowerment Kuria in Kenya in January 2023. (Photo by Sarah Waiswa)
Last year we embarked on an audacious search for the most promising grassroots girls’ organizations we could find, to expand our Partner Coalition to 15 organizations. 42.5% of She’s the First’s budget is invested in resourcing our Partner Coalition, as we believe they are the most effective strategy to reaching the most vulnerable girls.
From March-June 2022, we received 338 applications from community-based organizations (CBOs) in South Sudan, Kenya, India, and Nepal.
Within the same year, we also graduated 5 organizations that we had worked with for an average of 7 years. STF invested $2,661,708.41 in grants and spent hundreds of hours consulting those 5 organizations, which supported 1,884 girls to pursue their educations and choose their own futures. We are proud of their growth and look forward to offering our new cohort similar opportunities.
“During our strategic planning process in early 2022, we invited girls as experts through a series of focus groups to determine the issues they most care about, noting the ways they hoped STF and our partners could rise to meet these challenges. ”
This process helped us identify the programming themes and priorities for our 2023-2025 Partner Coalition. It was also useful to objectively assess how the 300+ applicants aligned with our partnership rubric. We know we have the deepest impact on organizations that are:
founded locally and women-led
have under a $1.5M USD annual budget
run girl-centered programs
have feminist mentorship programs and sexual and reproductive health and rights programs
Partners were chosen after a rigorous, transparent process that included screener interviews, in-depth conversations, and site visits. At the site visits, our staff interviewed girls in the programs as well as the leaders and adults. We also conducted reference checks. Throughout the process, we were incredibly inspired by the work being done with and for girls, and our hearts were overflowing.
“As an organization, we are intentional to have a trust-based relationship with our partners. We believe in sharing power and in creating equitable spaces. ”
As an organization that funds, we also recognize an inherent power dynamic. In reflecting on ways we can share power, do better and be more progressive, we updated and implemented a design change for our Partner Coalition. Moving forward, we are excited to share that our Partner Coalition will now set its own impact goals with input from girls in their programs.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to share that this cohort is working toward a shared set of goals for girls’ rights that they co-created with us. The STF Partner Coalition’s goal is to strengthen mentorship programs to promote girls’ agency and leadership.”
Our partners set benchmarks for what She’s the First measures, how we measure, what trainings we offer, and what campaigns we run with the Partner Coalition! Stay tuned for exciting updates on their progress!
I can’t wait for you to get to know our partners from India, Nepal, Guatemala, Peru, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Sudan and see what we accomplish together! The Partner Coalition is expected to transform life outcomes for 9,000+ girls annually. She’s the First provides these 15 CBOs in 10 countries with flexible funding, customized training, resources, coaching, and networks to strengthen outcomes for girls.
Our 2023 - 2025 Partner Coalition:
Latin America:
MAIA (Guatemala)
Kusi Kawsay (Peru)
Sacred Valley Project (Peru)
West Africa:
Starfish International (The Gambia)
Project Pikin (Sierra Leone)
East Africa:
Msichana Empowerment Kuria (Kenya)
Savana Kitui (Kenya)
Caring Hearts Initiative for Community Development (South Sudan)
Crown the Woman (South Sudan)
Girls Livelihood and Mentorship Initiative (Tanzania)
Arlington Academy of Hope (Uganda)
South Asia:
Developmental Association for Human Advancement (India)
Sahas Foundation (India)
Shequal Foundation (Nepal)
The Small World (Nepal)
Throughout 2023, we’ll introduce you to each of our 15 partners here on our news page through stories, photos, and videos! Sign up for our newsletter to get the articles sent straight to your inbox.