CHAK has teamed up with Embu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Nyandarua counties to co-create and implement the County Mentorship and Transition (CMaT®) Model.

The model provides a practical framework for achieving sustainability in health programs through structured capacity development, embedded mentorship, and joint accountability.

CMaT’s mission is to enhance the capacity of county health systems to deliver quality healthcare, allocate resources and coordinate health programs for healthier communities.

The model, which is a county-led strategy, builds resilient, high-performing health systems capable of sustaining services beyond donor support.

Due to its practicability and effectiveness, the model has been adopted by the U.S Department of State as the principal framework to guide County engagement and drive the sustainability journey across all Implementing Partners (IPs).

While PEPFAR has advanced HIV care, heavy reliance on external support threatens long-term service continuity. Limited resources, weak supervision, and inadequate institutional capacity hinder sustainable progress in HIV care.

To address these gaps, CMaT was co-created to build resilient, high-performing health systems capable of sustaining services beyond donor support.

The CMaT® model will accelerate the shift towards county-led health services by building robust systems, skills, and local leadership to ensure counties maintain and scale up high-quality service delivery long after partners transition out.

The CMaT model supports the PEPFAR sustainability agenda, strengthens county ownership and enhances health system resilience by embedding technical expertise within country structures for long-term sustainability beyond donor funding.

The CMaT® model represents a significant shift in Kenya’s health sector—from externally driven programs to county-led, sustainable systems. By investing in local leadership, strengthening technical capacity, and promoting joint accountability, the model ensures that the gains made under PEPFAR and USAID support are preserved and scaled through resilient, self-reliant county health systems.

CMaT® is more than a transition model, it is Kenya’s pathway to lasting health system ownership, efficiency, and sustainability.