APHRC Organizational Effectiveness Assessment Report May 2024

Abstract

The African Population and Health Research Center’s (APHRC) Strategic Plan 2022–2026, “A Bold New Vision,” promises to make APHRC a transformative force in Africa and to tackle systemic challenges in the African research and development (R&D) ecosystem. Several new shifts articulated in the Strategic Plan led the APHRC leadership team to determine whether the Center was fit for purpose in its ability to achieve impact. This was the genesis of the Organizational Effectiveness Assessment (OEA) exercise conducted in 2022–2023. The exercise was conducted by Humentum’s (hired consultants) in two phases. The first OEA phase had a clear internal focus, assessing several organizational elements and the extent to which they were considered fit for purpose individually and collectively. The second phase had an external focus, assessing stakeholders’ perspectives on the Center’s work, impact and positioning. External stakeholders included current partners, funders and Board members considering their role as trustees. It also consisted of mapping existing organizations, institutions, and partners familiar with the Center including potential partners that APHRC could collaborate with in the future to optimize its leverage within the existing R&D system on the continent. This report summarizes the entire OEA exercise, highlighting the process, findings, and recommendations.