To capture and share knowledge gained through AIDSRelief’s transitions to local partners, the Health and Social Services unit at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has developed this learning document. Interviews with project staff, local partners, and facility personnel involved with transition provide the foundation for an exploration of challenges, successes, and potential best practices identified in four AIDS Relief countries.

The experiences of transitioning grant management, clinical oversight, and strategic information management from a consortium made of international organizations to wide-ranging local partners varied tremendously. In the four countries profiled in this document, common themes appeared: cultivating a shared vision, bringing partners “to the table” in a meaningful way, encouraging staff continuity, and balancing flexibility with prescription. Shared common understanding vision and commitment to transition process, as well as improving local partner’s systems and building trust, confidence among stakeholders, facilitated the transition process toward local ownership.