Event Details

Day 3 - Board Members' 2025-2030 Strategic Plan Training at Dorvic Hotel, Blantyre.

Completed

Focus Areas: 

1. Financial Management Best Practices 
2. Stakeholder Engagement

The final day concentrated entirely on critical external functions: fiduciary oversight and external relationship management, both essential for CHAFO's long-term sustainability. The first major module covered Financial Management Best Practices from a Board oversight perspective. This involved training on how to effectively read and interpret key financial reports, including the Statement of Financial Position and Statement of Activities, to assess the organization's health and sustainability. Topics included donor reporting standards, understanding budget versus actual expenditure, the importance of strong internal controls to mitigate fraud (reinforcing the core value of Transparency), and the Board's role in approving and monitoring the annual external audit process. This ensures the Board can effectively manage the Financial Sustainability and Resource Mobilization priority outlined in the SP.

The afternoon culminated in the Stakeholder Engagement module. Building on the previous days, this session utilized the SP’s detailed Stakeholder Matrix (which identifies Donors, MOH/DHO, VDCs, and ADCs) to strategize high-level relationship management. The training covered effective communication protocols, managing potential conflicts of interest with key government or community partners, and the Board's role as organizational ambassadors in high-stakes environments. Practical exercises were conducted on how to effectively communicate CHAFO’s impact and solicit support for the new 5-Year Plan from high-level Donors and policy makers. The day concluded with the Board setting its first action plan for rolling out the Strategic Plan, confirming their commitment to their new governance roles.