Community Asset Building and Development Action (CABDA) staff recently undertook a valuable exchange visit to Njira Impact in Malawi, supported by Blood:Water. The aim of the two-day visit was to benchmark Njira Impact’s best practices in: achieving internal organizational sustainability, designing and structuring programs to meet target population needs, and developing leadership at various levels within the organization. The visit provided a deeper understanding of Njira Impact’s main thematic areas which include Health and Livelihood.
During the exchange, the CABDA team experienced how they carry out community outreaches. Through this activity, Njira Impact ensures healthcare reaches beneficiaries through trained health workers, supplementing local health facilities with additional medicines. This monthly outreach serves approximately 1,000 people per day across different villages.
The team also saw how Njira Impact empowers women through grants to start their own Income Generating Activities (IGAs). Examples of successful enterprises visited included a maize mill, a cooking oil refining machine, and boat and fishing equipment. Furthermore, groups receive training to strengthen their structures in managing loans, record keeping, and coordination.
Through the field visits and discussions, CABDA team gained valuable knowledge on programming and implementation of health and livelihoods initiatives, along with innovative approaches to resource mobilization. CABDA is profoundly inspired by Njira Impact’s commitment to community transformation and is eager to apply the lessons learned toward its own growth and development.
