Strengthening capacity of community systems and structures in prevention of HIV&AIDS in Kitgum District, Nothern Uganda

1. Strengthening Capacity of
Community Systems &
Structures in accessing
HIV/AIDS:
Kitgum District-Uganda.
The Second HIV Capacity Building Partner’s Summit,
Birchwood Hotel, Johannesburg - S. Africa
by
Tushabe Privah
Co-authors: Hizaamu R, Flavia M. N, Peter O, Consolata N.T
Harnessing Indigenous Potentials in Africa (HIPo-Africa)

2. Presentation outline
1. About HIPO-Africa.
2. Project background and description
3. Project context
4. Key interventions
5. Methodologies and strategies
6. Resources required
7. Challenges
8. Evidence of success and achievements
9. Why is a best practice
10. What others partners will gain from the
model
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3. About HIPo-Africa
Harnessing Indigenous Potentials – Africa:
• Registered National NGO, specialized in
institutional Capacity development, with
emphasis on Indigenous Knowledge Systems
(IKS) and Community Systems strengthening in
Social development interventions.
Mission:
Vision: To sustainably build capacity of
A transformed society service providers and community
with improved quality beneficiaries towards social
of life development through application of
IKS
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4. Project Background and Description
Title:Strengthening Community Systems to
increase access to HIV and AIDS interventions by
women and girls
Target: women and girls
Aim: to increasing access to HIV/AIDS related
psychosocial support services through promotion of
good governance, accountability and transparency
among service providers: and strengthening
community systems and structures.
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5. Description of the Project context
 Uganda: National HIV prevalence is 7.3%
 Northern Uganda its 8.3%
 Prevalence trends on increase due to
limited capacity of Community Systems
and Structures to address psychosocial
issues related to HIV/AIDS, particularly in
the post war disrupted communities of
Northern Uganda.
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6. Key Project interventions
 Community resource mapping and IKS perspectives
 Conduct psychosocial care and support (PSS) assessment
and trainings
 Developing capacities of ToTs & community volunteers
(male peers), CSGs, religious and community leaders,
health workers and village health teams
 Support referral network
 Client follow-up for counselling
 Adherence, stigma reduction campaigns
 Establish mechanisms for participation and engagement
rights issues
 Coordination meetings for stakeholders
 Application of theory of change for M&E
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7. Methodologies and  Integrate IKS in
community interventions
strategies  Establishing strategic
partnerships with key
A women attending a small holder stakeholders (District local
farming training Gov't, CBOs, CSGs)
 Capacity development for
formal and informal
community structures
 Establishing strong referral
systems
 Use of the theory of
change for M&E
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8. Resources required
 Finances
 Efficient and effective
Human resources; ToTs,
community volunteers and
VHTs
 Logistics; communication
and transport facilities,
stationery, IEC materials
 Knowledge in IKS and ToC
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9. Challenges
 High demand for limited
resources; vulnerable communities
are to too expectant
Many CBOs and CSGs need
capacity development to address
community needs but lack
resources (Are not attractive to
funders)
 Breakdown of indigenous
community systems and structures
due to long time civil war & life in
IDPs
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10. Evidence of success and achievements
Mothers attending a PMTCT Sensitization Session 40% increase in
number of women
and girls accessing
psychosocial
services related to
HIV&AIDS
Adoption of ToC in
community
interventions
captured results as
they occurred
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11. Conclusions and why is a best practice
Use of IKS in community systems strengthening is
sustainable and addresses social cultural constructs
which influence service up take.
Application of ToC in assessing change provides
incentives for community participation
Beneficiaries are able to sustain what has been
achieved or implemented through integrating it with
their cultural practices
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12. What others will gain from the model
The approach promotes use of positive cultural
practices to increase uptake of services; its cost
effective and sustainable because its been built within
what communities practice in their culture
ToC will facilitate real time documentation of project
changes compared to application of logical framework
approach
Results
realized early in the project are incentives to
community participation and ownership
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13. “If you plan for one year, sow seeds. If you
plan for ten years, plant a tree. If you plan
for hundred years, build capacity”
Thank You
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