USAID Gives US$4.4M Grant to Society for Family Health

{{Local civil society organization, Society for Family Health (SFH), has signed a direct grant with USAID/Rwanda totaling $4.4 million.}}

SFH’s three-year grant will fund the organization to continue its work in social marketing and behavior change communications, specifically for prevention of HIV/AIDS.

The grant signing makes Society for Family Health the fourth local organization working in Rwanda’s health sector to be directly funded by USAID, joining three other local organizations which signed awards with USAID in September

During the signing on December 4, there was Manasseh Wandera, Chief of Party of Society for Family Health and USAID/Rwanda Mission Director, Mr. Peter Malnak.

Also in attendance were the U.S. Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Ms. Jessica Lapenn and Ms. Susan Fine, visiting Director of USAID’s East African Affairs Office, both of whom gave congratulatory remarks.

SFH was created as a part of USAID’s Behavior Change and Social Marketing (BCSM) program, implemented by Population Services International (PSI), to build local capacity and enhance the sustainability of behavior change communication work in Rwanda.

Working directly with civil society organizations is one of the priorities of USAID’s reform initiative, known as USAID Forward.

The initiative seeks to increase Agency effectiveness by changing the way it partners with other organizations, manages funds, measures results, and embraces innovation in its worldwide programs.

Through increasing its partnerships with local organizations in Rwanda, USAID aims to improve the well-being of Rwandans through increasing the sustainability and country-ownership of the country’s development outcomes.