FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2006

The fiscal year for CRN+ ended 31 August, 2006. This year saw the closing off of financial assistance to all networks receiving such support from the SIRHASC project with the exception of Haiti . While some networks were able to source funding from various donors in the region and continue to grow, others seemed not to have the capacity to continue operations. At present, we have no reports on the progress to date of TLC, St Lucia , and a reorganisation of JN+, Jamaica has taken place. We are, however, obligated by our donor - the World Bank - to find and build the capacity of new networks and offer financial assistance to them. National Networks and Support Groups that are no longer receiving financial assistance are:

• JN+ Jamaica
• TLC, St Lucia
• HHHN, Antigua
• Hope Pals, Grenada
• G+, Guyana

The year the Finance Department performed audits on the Sub-recipients of our Global Fund grant. These four organisations received quarterly financial reviews and while most performed satisfactorily, the tardiness and lack of accuracy of some reports posed challenges. These Sub-recipients under the Global Fund grant are:

• The Caribbean HIV/AIDS Alliance
• The Caribbean Coalition of National AIDS Programme Coordinators (CCNAPC)
• The Caribbean Health Research Council, (CHRC)
• The University of the West Indies (UWI) Health Economics Unit.

CDC

August 2006 saw CRN+ completing Year 3 of the Grant from the CDC. According to the terms and conditions of the Grant a continuation proposal for Year 4 (30th September 2006 to 29th September 2007) of US $129,610 was forwarded to and accepted by CDC.

Separate from the approved grant, additional funding of US $50,000.00 was awarded to CRN+ to begin initial steps for a new co-operative agreement. This will include convening a meeting with people living with HIV/AIDS to seek guidance and input about developing a community-based care and treatment programme, conducting in-country surveys to assess community readiness for integrating people with HIV into healthcare teams and developing a new regional strategy for country organisations that outlines how they will develop and sustain treatment advocates in the region.

GFATM

Funds disbursed to CRN+ as at August 2006, totalled US $1,267,335. The amount being held by Sub-recipients at the end of the reporting period was US $111, 123.

Two quarterly audits were conducted in this first year of the Grant. A review of CRN+ was conducted by the Local Fund Agent (LFA) in October 2006 and CRN+ was found to be in compliance with all the terms and conditions of the grant agreement.

WORLD BANK

Funds were received from the World Bank through its Principal Recipient PANCAP in the amount of US $417,757. Of this amount expenditure of US $33,162 was realised. As stated previously, funds were disbursed to six networks up to March 2006, then to Haiti only, for the next two quarters of the fiscal year.

At the end of the fiscal year 2006, grants and other income totalled US $1,411,454, while payments for expenses on all projects totalled US $1,016,918.

CRN+ is committed to providing quality service to the Caribbean region. New projects are being tabled and funding is being sought in order to enable the organisation to realise its vision of “making a meaningful difference in the lives of PLWHA”

Amryl Berment

Manager, Finance & Accounting