Mbn hiv/aids evaluation final report Team of consultants

4.3.1.2. An AIDS-competent society has emerged

This judgement criterion assesses to what extent the counterparts of the CFAs have supported their constituencies to take up collective responsibility and develop activities to mitigate the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This judgment criterion concerns the capacity building activities towards community based initiatives, the facilitation of networking, linking and learning, the enhancement of advocacy and lobby capacities and the stimulation of a greater involvement of PLWHA. This judgement criterion is related to the CFA strategy on civil society building. All 17 HIV/AIDS focussed counterparts visited are, in one way or an other, involved in the organisation and development of support groups, or in capacity building activities for AIDS service organisations (CBOs, NGOs and government services).

Organisation and development of peer support groups

As mentioned above, more than 60% of the counterparts visited (11 out of 17) are involved in the organisation and follow up of support groups: PLWHA support groups, post test (youth) clubs, HBC groups, OVC support groups or groups for income generating activities. New social fabrics have been established that take up their responsibility to address the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in society. As already mentioned, the sustainability of these initiatives varied, some groups could not see themselves continue if the counterpart withdrew, others did. Most of these support groups are focused on their immediate tasks and are rarely involved in advocacy activities, linked to networks or involved in policy and strategic discussions with the counterparts that support them (except the LL diocese in Malawi who did link their support groups of PLWHA with NAPHAM and made them participate in the meetings of the National AIDS Committee). The evaluators did not see much exchange of experiences or shared learning between these support groups (except for one case in Malawi: the LL diocese organised sports activities between groups of PLWHA and HBC groups).

Capacity building of CBOs and NGOs

8 out of 17 HIV/AIDS focussed counterparts visited in the four countries are strong NGOs involved in capacity building activities (some of them also offer consultancy services) geared to NGOs, CBOs and even government services, resulting in a better quality of service providers.