PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 2005 - AUGUST 2006

The Programme Unit, fondly referred to as ‘the engine room' of the CRN+ Secretariat has as its mandate to determine the education and training programme needs for addressing the growth and development of CRN+ at any given point in time and to ensure that CRN+'s programmatic goals are effectively achieved.

The Unit, therefore, manages and provides oversight for the programmatic activities associated with projects such as the Regional Coalition on Women and AIDS and other major activities funded by our donors.

This report summarises the programmatic activities undertaken by the Secretariat for the period September 2005 – August 2006 and chronicles some of the challenges encountered in the implementation of the activities. It concludes with recommendations for the way forward.

THE GLOBAL FUND

In early 2005, CRN+ became the first civil society organisation to receive approval for a grant by the Global Fund. The project titled “Strengthening the Community of People Living with HIV/AIDS and those affected by HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean – a community based initiative” is the first of its kind in the world to be run by and for PLWHA. Apart from its role as the Principal Recipient of the grant, CRN+ is also a Sub-recipient, along with the International HIV/AIDS Alliance (IHAA), the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Caribbean Coalition of National AIDS Programme Co-coordinators (CCNAPC) and the Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC).

The goals of the project are as follows:

1. To facilitate the efficient and effective access to quality treatment, care and support services; and
2. To reduce the barriers posed by stigma and discrimination to accessing sustained treatment and support.

The project focuses on four areas of priority for PLWHA in the Caribbean , namely:

1. Treatment Preparedness and Adherence
2. Capacity Building
3. Advocacy
4. Monitoring and Evaluation

Activities 1.1 and 1.2: Capacity Building Workshops

Workshops were completed in 4.5 countries by the fourth quarter of Year 1. Having concluded the Programme Management Module in Haiti in July 2006, only the Communications Module was left to be conducted in Haiti in order to complete Year 1 targets. This was scheduled for September 2006. Both modules were implemented in Antigua , St. Lucia , Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago by the end of Year 1. In addition, the Programme Management Module was also completed in Haiti , St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana during the reporting period, although St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana were not targeted for Year 1.

The combined total of persons trained in the five target countries as at 31 st July, 2006 was 148, falling short of the Year 1 Quarter 4 target of 200 by 42 persons. An accelerated workplan has been formulated to make up for the variance in Year 2.

A training module was completed in draft and the peer counselling sessions were conducted in 4 countries. The number of peer counsellors trained in promoting health seeking behaviours among PLWHA was 66, falling just short of the Year 1 Quarter 4 target of 70. The numbers trained in the various countries were as follows: Grenada – 12, St. Vincent and the Grenadines – 14; Suriname – 21 and Trinidad – 19. One of the reasons for the variance was that some individuals who were interested in being trained were unable to commit to the one week duration of the sessions due to leave not being granted by employers, childcare responsibilities etc.

A letter was drafted by CRN+ to submit to the Regional Co-coordinating Mechanism in relation to an apparent discrepancy in Activity 1.1 regarding the number of peer counsellors providing services to other PLWHA to facilitate access to treatment, care and support, one year after training. This was submitted to Global Fund Cluster leader, Wolfgang Munar, at the Guatemala Meeting in October 2006.

Activities 1.6 and 1.7: Creation of guidelines and training on law, ethics and human rights

An attempt was made to host a breakfast meeting of lawyers from at least seven law firms in Trinidad in July 2006. The proximity of the meeting with the close of the law term made it impossible for many of the lawyers to attend. A literature review was, however, completed by July 2006 and the first draft of the guidelines is being prepared. UWI has indicated that the Australian guidelines will form the model for project, thus the content is being customised to the Caribbean context.

Sixty civil society organisations have been reached in law, ethics and human rights initiatives of CRN+. Special training in domestic and international law, relating to Human Rights, Stigma and Discrimination was tentatively scheduled for December 2006. Participants are expected to include attorneys-at-law, representatives from civil society organisations and other NGO's.

Activity 2.2: Creation of guidelines on treatment and adherence

The Treatment and Adherence Guidelines were developed and submitted to an editorial committee comprising members of the community of PLWHA, CRN+ Board members and Secretariat representatives. The committee rejected the initial guidelines and mandated CRN+ to prepare a more user-friendly publication for the target community. This was completed and submitted to the printers for production and distribution at the CRN+ AGM in October, 2006.

Activity 3.3: Selection of PLWHA to participate in NAP outreach activities

The number of PLWHA community members identified and selected to participate in National AIDS Programme (NAP) outreach activities was 25, while the number of NAPs working with PLWHA was 2.

Activity 3.4: Establishment of specialised desks to respond to Law, Ethics and Human Rights violations

While there was a challenge in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica in terms of securing a suitable location for the specialised desk, a desk was successfully established in Suriname .

Activity 4: Monitoring and Evaluation

Reports for Quarters 3 and 4 were submitted to the Global Fund on 15 th June, 2006 and 15 th September, 2006 respectively. Final verification of the Quarter 3 reports was conducted during the period 24 th – 28 th July, 2006 by the Local Funding Agent (LFA).

• More follow-up is needed on the IHAA with respect to timeliness of reporting and its strategy to implement its workplan
• The draft questionnaire prepared by CHRC was too long and the LFA questioned whether PLWHA had been involved in the preparation of the questions
• CRN+ needs to continue monitoring Sub-recipients to ensure efficient reporting
• The National Network (umbrella organisation) should comprise more than three in-country support groups
• PLWHA should be involved in the production of the Law, Ethics and Human Rights guidelines being prepared by UWI.

WORLD BANK

Through the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP), CRN+ is a Sub-recipient of World Bank funds. The Principal Recipient of this grant is CARICOM. The project was launched in December 2004 and the overall objective is to strengthen the regional response to HIV/AIDS.

The implementing agencies are as follows:

1. CARICOM
2. UWI
3. UNAIDS
4. CAREC
5. CRN+

The purpose of the grant vis-à-vis our Network is the “Institutional Strengthening of CRN+”. This will be achieved through the development of an efficiently run Regional Secretariat to effectively support the growth and development of the National Networks of PLWHA; and the establishment of National Networks of PLWHA that actively contribute to national and regional decision-making and policy development.

In order to achieve the objective of the grant, the areas of focus for CRN+ are as follows:

1. Organisational development
2. Communications and marketing
3. Resource mobilisation
4. IT Platform
5. Monitoring and evaluation.

Organisational Development

For the reporting period, the number of PLWHA trained in HIV/AIDS advocacy and leadership was 69. Six National Networks were effectively managing their activities to date and 74 PLWHA were trained in Programme Management.

Communications and Marketing

The Regional Advocacy Agenda, titled ‘Turning up the Volume!' was launched at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto in August 2006. The launch was very well received by all present and won rave reviews by CRN+ partners and members alike.

Several workshops were held during the course of the year. The workshops held were as follows:

1. Advocacy – Trinidad and Tobago (March 2006);
2. Advocacy, Leadership, Programme Management, IT, Financial Management and Communications Strategy – Trinidad and Tobago (July 2006);
3. Advocacy and Leadership – Haiti (July 2006);
4. Communications Strategy – Guyana (November 2005), Jamaica (February 2006), Suriname (March 2006).

The activity held in July 2006 was the first time that such a large number of participants was brought in to Trinidad for a workshop. The sessions took place at the School of Education on the UWI, St. Augustine Campus and there were approximately fifteen (15) participants from each of the following countries: St. Vincent and the Grenadines , Barbados , Dominica and Guyana .

During the reporting period, all the required communications equipment was purchased and communications needs assessments were completed in Suriname , St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica (December 2005), St. Lucia (February 2006) and Haiti (July 2006).

Resource Mobilisation

The Office of the CEO embarked on a resource mobilisation campaign early in 2006 to secure funding for CRN+'s participation in the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto and for CRN+'s 10 th Anniversary celebrations. Meetings were also held with current and potential donors with a view to securing funding for our next five-year strategic plan (2008-2012).

Information Technology

By the date of reporting, all IT equipment required for the CRN+ Secretariat had been purchased. An IT strategy has also been developed in draft form. IT training was conducted during the large workshop that took place in Trinidad in July 2006.

CDC

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funds what is affectionately called by all at CRN+ ‘the CVP' project, i.e. the Community Volunteer Programme. The CVP permits a full exchange of knowledge and experience between members of national networks and the staff of the Secretariat. The objective of the project is the transfer of skills to facilitate better management of the national networks through:

1. Strengthening the organisational management and leadership skills of the members (starting with the Board Members); and
2. Training on working methods and activities of the Secretariat.

The Programme assigns two participants, each from a different country, who are active Board or Network members to the CRN+ Secretariat for a period of six to eight weeks. To date, the following countries have participated in the CVP:

• Round 1: Bermuda
• Round 2: Guyana and Antigua
• Round 3: Trinidad and Tobago
• Round 4: Suriname and Turks and Caicos
• Round 5: Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica
• Round 6: St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana
• Round 7: St. Lucia and Jamaica
• Round 8: Haiti and Dominica

Three challenges have surfaced repeatedly on this project: First, interested members encounter difficulties in arranging a leave of absence from work to take part for the full duration of the cycle; secondly, report writing has proven to be a hurdle due to the level of literacy of the average volunteer; and finally, the re-assimilation of the volunteers into their respective National Networks upon their completion of the programme has proven difficult for various reasons. Being aware of these challenges, CRN+ is committed to developing strategies to overcome them.

THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

In November 2004, an agreement was signed between CRN+ and the French Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago “to create or strengthen partnerships and networks” between CRN+ and the Departments of France of the Americas (DFA). The grant provided financial support for missions to French Guiana, Guadeloupe, St. Martin and Martinique . The CEO, Ms. Yolanda Simon and Programme Officer, Ms Raphaële Dambo visited Martinique, St. Martin and Guadeloupe during the period 13 th – 23 rd October, 2005 and French Guiana from 20 th – 24 th March, 2005.

The funds that remain for this project will be allocated to activities to further strengthen the relationship that has developed between networks and support groups in the DFA and CRN+. A project review will also be conducted to determine the way forward.

REGIONAL COALITION ON WOMEN AND AIDS

The Regional Coalition on Women and AIDS was launched on 1 st November, 2005. Draft Terms of Reference (TOR) were circulated to the participants for revision. A follow up meeting was scheduled to take place on 7 th April, 2006. A reminder was given to participants on the draft TOR and the role of the steering committee and working groups. During the meeting the TOR were reviewed and discussions were held on the way forward for the Coalition.

CHALLENGES

In the reporting period, the challenges were as follows:

The Global Fund

• Untimely disbursements by donor agency
• Delays in the implementation of activities by Sub-recipients

World Bank

• Delays in the implementation of CRN+ activities

Regional Coalition on Women and AIDS

• The project is at a standstill.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The CRN+ Secretariat has made the following recommendations for the next fiscal year:

For harmonisation purposes the PANCAP Implementation Performance System (PIPS) should be used by the three regional GFATM grant recipients (PANCAP, CRN+ and OECS)

Acceleration of activities for both CRN+ and the sub-recipients

A strategy is to be developed for the creation of support groups and national networks.