At Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya

Leadership Programme for Community-Based Organisations and Cooperatives

Advancing Community-Led Change in Times of Constraint

Course 2026

In-person course at Strahmore University, Nairobi

16 to 20 March 2026

With Certificate of Achievement

USD 950

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Course Features

The course features presentations, experiential learning and sharing experiences, readings, facilitated discussions, individual and group activities.
Empowering leaders. Transforming communities.

Five-day in-person programme
in Nairobi, Kenya

Max. 20 participants - register early

An exclusive online Community of Practice, six follow-up webinars

Monday - Friday
09:00 AM - 5:00 PM (EAT), at Strathmore University

2 hours of dedicated self-study

With Certificate of Achievement after a
short test

Key Benefits

By the end of the programme, you will be able to:

Course Trainer: Rita Palo

Course Trainer: Roberto Palo

Strengthen and scale community-led initiatives

by applying inclusive, ethical, and context-responsive strategies that build local ownership and legitimacy, even in resource-constrained environments.

Mobilise resources more effectively

by using practical tools for grassroots fundraising, strategic partnerships, and smart use of local assets to sustain and grow your organisation’s impact.

Lead adaptively in complex contexts

by applying integrated approaches, navigating power dynamics, and fostering collaboration grounded in the realities of your community.

Design for lasting impact and learning

by embedding simple monitoring, feedback, and learning loops that support continuous improvement, accountability, and resilience.

Join and benefit from a sustained peer learning network

enabling ongoing community-to-community exchange, joint problem-solving, and innovation beyond the classroom through a dedicated Community of Practice and follow-up webinars.

Jointly developed and delivered by Strathmore University Nonprofits, Social Enterprises, and Philanthropy (SUNSEP) Hub (Kenya), & NGO Management Association (Switzerland)

Course Programme

Doing More with Less: Smarter Resource Use and Visibility

Participants will explore how to maximise limited resources, communicate more effectively with stakeholders, and increase visibility through grassroots fundraising, participatory budgeting, and community-driven financial systems.

Key Learning Outcomes

Develop grassroots fundraising strategies tailored to local contexts
Improve financial planning and accountability mechanisms for transparency
Leverage local resources and social capital for sustainability
Communicate impact and value to attract support from diverse funders
Build transparent and resilient financial systems that communities trust

Field visit to a CBO and a Cooperative (Nairobi area)

A hands-on visit to a CBO and a cooperative in the Nairobi area to critically examine how theory translates into practice in real-world settings.

Observe community engagement, governance, and service delivery models in action
Engage in peer exchanges to reflect on challenges, successes, and adaptive strategies
Identify transferable practices and innovations for strengthening participants’ own community initiatives

Strategic Collaboration Beyond Funding: Alliances That Work

Participants will explore how to create value-driven partnerships that go beyond financial support, tapping into networks, joint action, and market opportunities to increase their reach and impact.

Key Learning Outcomes

Map ecosystem actors to identify opportunities for effective collaboration
Identify market-driven collaboration models that align with community goals
Apply data and evidence for credibility and informed decision-making
Structure alliances and coalitions that serve shared missions and can scale
Learn from successful models of collaborative impact across sectors

Local Power, Lasting Impact: Driving Community-led Solutions in Lean Times

Participants will apply core localisation principles, strengthen community engagement practices, and co-develop context-relevant strategies for financial resilience and local ownership. The day combines critical reflection, peer learning, and practical tools to equip participants with actionable solutions for resource-constrained environments.

Key learning outcomes

Apply core principles of localisation and community leadership to your own context
Design inclusive and ethical stakeholder engagement strategies using tested participatory tools
Develop or strengthen local financial resilience strategies, including solidarity mechanisms and micro-enterprise approaches
Deconstruct and extract lessons from real-world case studies of community-led solutions
Identify and challenge existing power dynamics; formulate approaches to strengthen community ownership and agency

This intensive course is designed to strengthen the leadership, sustainability, and impact of community-based organisations (CBOs) and cooperatives across Kenya. It combines practical training with structured peer exchanges, strategic planning, and tools for long-term growth. The five-day programme includes four days of hands-on workshops and one dedicated day for field visits to a local CBO and cooperative - creating space for direct learning from good practices and lessons learned on the ground.

After the course, the learning journey continues. Participants will be invited to join a dedicated online Community of Practice (CoP), open exclusively to those who attended the course, to continue peer exchanges and collaborative learning. The Community of Practice will host peer-led clinics focused on jointly solving real-world challenges faced by participants.

To keep momentum high and deepen practical impact, six follow-up webinars of one hour each will offer needs-based support, real-time tools, and fresh insights tailored to participants’ evolving needs.

Strengthening What Works: Adaptive Growth and Learning Loops

Participants will focus on how to make their initiatives more scalable, resilient, and responsive by embedding simple MEL frameworks and feedback loops, fostering learning cultures, and planning for sustainable growth.

Key Learning Outcomes

Create actionable MEL plans for learning, improvement, and accountability
Design scalable programmes rooted in community priorities and local practice
Strengthen leadership capacity to drive change and ensure continuity
Embed feedback loops for continuous learning and programme refinement
Plan for long-term resilience and sustainable outcomes

Click here for our Terms & Conditions.

Have any questions about this programme? Send us a message and our team will get back to you!