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CEPAR's quarterly online magazine

Sustainablity in the Face of Funding Phase-Out
Unfortunately, USAID is phasing out its support for CEPAR along with other health, family planning, and microenterprise activities. To help promote CEPAR’s sustainability in light of the phase out, USAID engaged LearnLink to develop the organization’s full potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The USAID Task Order for a CEPAR/LearnLink collaboration came at a time when the organization was starting to redefine its vision and mission and developing strategic plans that addressed crucial sustainability issues. In general, LearnLink’s task was to help CEPAR assume an exemplary role in using ICTs to:

Improve organizational efficiency
Help catalyze the sustainability process
Improve networking with similar-minded NGOs and institutions
Expand educational and advocacy outreach.

The Task Order objectives included assisting in the creation of a CEPAR web site and designing an online version of CEPAR’s “Correo” magazine. Since CEPAR’s information technology staff were already partially trained, the specific aims were to expand the organization’s electronic information options and services, enhance its electronic networking capabilities and services among health and population-related Ecuadorian NGOs and institutions, and develop a similar networking capacity within the Andean region.

The overriding concern was for CEPAR’s long-term relevance and sustainability. Thus, the Task Order was not so much about creating and sustaining a web site CEPAR could call its own or about developing Internet and networking capabilities within the organization and its partners. It was really about developing new organizational skills.