Ethiopia YMCA Health Assessment

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On 13 July 2025, Ethiopia YMCA reached a significant milestone by completing an Organizational Health Assessment—marking its participation in a pioneering global pilot initiative led by the Strategic Alignment and Movement Strengthening (SAMS) process of the YMCA Movement. This assessment is not an isolated event but part of a wider, intentional strategy to build stronger, more resilient, and better-aligned YMCAs globally.

This pilot initiative stems from the work of the SAMS Global Team, comprised of representatives from World YMCA, all Area Alliances, and several national movements including YMCA USA, Canada, Germany, Sweden, and others. The SAMS Global Team is working to provide increased strategic stewardship, coordinated frameworks, and technical tools to guide YMCAs on their journey of organizational growth and impact. Key meetings in Geneva, Kassel, and most notably Chicago in January 2024 were instrumental in co-creating the current SAMS strategy and developing the foundational MS tools.
The Ethiopia Health Assessment is one of the first applications of these tools in a live context, with the express purpose of refining and validating them ahead of a full global roll-out.

The process in Ethiopia was facilitated by the Africa Alliance of YMCAs, whose delegation—comprising General Secretary Nirina Lakotomalala, East and Southern Zone Facilitator Mr. Jared Musima, and SAMS Lead Osborne Wanyama—worked closely with Ethiopia YMCA's board, staff, and youth leaders. The assessment explored critical dimensions of institutional health including governance, leadership, youth engagement, sustainability, and innovation. It reflects the evolving MS paradigm—one grounded in evidence-based learning, mutual accountability, local ownership, and global coordination. Ethiopia’s engagement in this pilot underscores the commitment of African YMCAs to co-create the future of a stronger, united global movement
Participants collaborated to evaluate core aspects of institutional health, from governance and leadership to sustainability and youth engagement. The process was not only consultative but also rooted in shared values, reinforcing the central role of youth and community voices in shaping the future of YMCA in Ethiopia.

The assessment concluded with the co-creation and board endorsement of a comprehensive Organizational Development Plan. This plan is directly aligned with Ethiopia YMCA’s 2025 to 2029 strategy and contributes to the broader vision outlined in the global YMCA Movement’s Vision 2030 framework.
Key focus areas within the plan include:

Advancing financial sustainability and fostering innovation
Strengthening governance structures and enhancing youth representation
Establishing a consistent and adaptable assessment framework for the future

This plan sets a forward-looking agenda that positions Ethiopia YMCA as a leader in organizational growth and accountability within the region.

This plan sets a forward-looking agenda that positions Ethiopia YMCA as a leader in organizational growth and accountability within the region.
Ethiopia YMCA is the first of five national movements participating in the pilot phase of this new health assessment model.
The countries of Madagascar, Togo, Ghana and Namibia are scheduled to undertake the same process in the coming months, using Ethiopia’s example as a reference point. This pilot initiative demonstrates a growing commitment within Africa YMCAs to evidence-based planning, collaborative leadership and resilient governance. The lessons learned in Ethiopia will contribute to building a stronger, more unified continental movement.

The success of the assessment in Ethiopia is a testament to what can be achieved when leadership is inclusive, data is valued and collaboration is prioritized. It also underscores the importance of aligning organizational development with both local context and global direction.

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