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Press Releases Regional AIDS service NGOs examine governance and management capacity in the sector November 25, 2002 Secure the Future, a programme of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation will today kick-off a three day conference under the theme Capacity Building for effective and sustainable programming in HIV/AIDS. More than 150 participants from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland, West Africa and United states of America, representing government, grant recipients of Secure the Future, HIV/AIDS service organisations, development agencies and other funders will meet at Kempton Park, Gauteng. The conference will focus on the question of building leadership, governance and management capacity among AIDS service organisations to help them develop and implement relevant programmes, access more of the available funding sources, manage these funds well and to measure and document their work. Mr Delani Mthembu , National Development Agency¼s chief executive Officer will give a key note address on integrating HIV/AIDS in the development agenda of countries. Grant recipients will present their experiences on monitoring, community based treatment support and building their institutions and career paths for their volunteers. There will also be skills building sessions on project and financial management, monitoring, the role of NGOs in supporting anti retroviral therapy and on organisational development and governance. Site visits are also planned to Secure the Future funded programmes in around Johannesburg. Soweto HIV/AIDS Counsellors Association (SOHACA) is one of the organisations funded by Secure the Future. "Through the funding, we have managed to extend our training and counselling services to more than thirty youth clubs and churches in Soweto. The number of people living with HIV/AIDS trained and supported through this project has increased and most of them have disclosed their status", said Thulani Mhlongo, Director. "Secure the Future has identified two critical challenges facing organisations and institutions involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS: Creating strong and viable NGOs and strengthening CBOs to systematically plan, execute and document their interventions and helping the sector to access available pool of funds to respond effectively and with innovation to community needs," said Phangisile Mtshali, Director of .Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Community Outreach and Education Fund. A pocket guide aimed at assisting NGOs and CBOs to effectively manage donor funds will also be launched during the conference. Research has found that most NGOs and CBOs lack capacity in managing their finances which results in donors being reluctant to continue funding some of these organisations. It will serve as a resources and reference of good accounting and financial management principles. This guide is a result of collaboration between Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and PricewaterhouseCoopers. It captures what they have observed as common weaknesses in the NGOs and CBOs they have come across in the three years of Secure the Future. It will empower these organisations to become more accountable towards the funding that they receive and as a result attract more funding. Secure the Future is a $115 million five-year commitment of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation to provide care and support for women and children affected or infected with HIV/AIDS. This initiative is targeting specific countries in the southern and western regions of Africa. It has committed $100 million in five participating countries in southern Africa, South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland and Namibia. The remaining $15 million has been allocated to assist Senegal, Cote d¼Ivore, Mali and Burkina Faso in west Africa. The programme is intent on making a lasting impact and building the capacity of Africans to find relevant and home grown responses to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Its key focus areas are home-based care, prevention, capacity building and care and support for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The programme is now in its third year and has already committed $60 million in more than 100 grants in the five participating countries in the southern region. Ends Don Ray Malabie, Simeka TWS Communications, 082 389 9404
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