Mbn hiv/aids evaluation final report Team of consultants

4.2.2.2. Efficiency

The CFAs demonstrated flexibility with regard to budget spending, for example through opting for budget support schemes. This enabled counterparts to adjust programmes and budgets according to the needs of their beneficiaries, which is essential in a rapidly changing HIV/AIDS context. CFA’s pay an average of one visit per year to their counterparts or to their country offices (PLAN). The regional country officers of HIVOS, Plan and the joint Oxfam programmes visit their counterparts more frequently. The question whether the dialogue between CFA and counterpart is carried out efficiently also depends on the time allocated to the dialogue. The dialogue is based on different communication channels: visits, e-mail discussions, telephone conversations, workshops, etc.
Interesting workshops have been organised, but the follow up of these workshops and hence the progress of counterparts, if more systematically monitored could have been more efficient. Programme officers have not taken this up (they cannot) and outsourcing does not appear to be evident. The evaluation learned that service NGOs, such as SAFAIDS (follow up of HIVOS and ICCO’s counterparts) and Cabungo (follow up of NOVIB and CORDAID counterparts), did not manage to carry out this follow up properly due to a lack of time, human resources and funding. Apparently the elaboration of workplace policies (which was the first subject of the mainstreaming workshops mentioned above) needs a more pro-active and thorough support. Furthermore, local capacity often seems to be lacking, not many local consultants are specialised in this area. From this viewpoint, the presence of the CFAs in the region can play a vital role in the scaling up of HIV/AIDS-competence of the organisations through regional joint programmes (such as the joint Oxfam programmes), regional offices (such as HIVOS and Plan) or international allies and networks (like Aprodev). These international alliances have not been studied in the scope of this evaluation.
Except for the SAN! Projects (pilot countries India and Uganda), most of the workshops and support programmes have been set up separately by each CFA. However CFAs are looking for cooperation in this matter. Cordaid and ICCO have become engaged in joint-capacity building programmes with other European NGOs. There are more opportunities for collaboration as some international networks are also engaged in the support of workplace policy development, like the International Community of Women living with HIV/AIDS, the Eucumenical HIV/AIDS Initiative for Africa, or the HASAP programme of ACORD (the latter was one of the most important stakeholder of the SAN! Project in Uganda).