Strengthening FSNT’s Institutional Capacity: Organisational Assessment with Afrikagrupperna

In November 2019, the Female Students Network Trust (FSNT) participated in an organisational assessment as part of a prospective partnership with Afrikagrupperna, a Swedish social justice organisation committed to feminist, rights-based development across Southern Africa.

The assessment, conducted by an independent consultant, was part of Afrikagrupperna’s due diligence process before expanding partnerships in Zimbabwe. It aimed to evaluate FSNT’s systems, accountability frameworks, strategic alignment, and long-term sustainability.

The process included a two-day site visit to Harare, extensive document reviews, and interviews with a wide range of stakeholders including FSNT leadership and staff, board members, students, and external partners such as the University of Zimbabwe, Belvedere Teacher Training College, the Education Coalition of Zimbabwe, the US Embassy, and Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT).

Key Takeaways:

• FSNT is uniquely positioned as the only national organisation dedicated solely to the rights and empowerment of female students in Zimbabwe, making it a key actor for social change within the education sector.
• The assessment noted the organisation’s growing credibility, strong grassroots network, and responsiveness to students’ lived realities, particularly on issues of sexual harassment, gender inequality, and leadership barriers.
• Despite operating with limited financial and mobility resources, FSNT demonstrated exceptional commitment to ethical leadership, community outreach, and institutional vision, laying a solid foundation for sustainable partnership growth.

This evaluation cemented the basis for future collaboration with Afrikagrupperna and highlighted FSNT’s readiness to scale its impact across Zimbabwe through shared values of equity, youth leadership, and feminist transformation.