COPTA Facilitation Process

Transcription

1 COPTA Facilitation Process Community Participatory Planning Tool for HIV/AIDS Presented in the 2 nd Good Governance in HIV/AIDS Workshop in Tanzania,DLC, Dar Es Salaam, 7 th to 9 th January Dr Stigmata C. Tenga, ST Associates-RFA Arusha/Manyara Project

2 Community Participatory Planning Tool for HIV/AIDS (COPTA) In September 2006, TACAIDS requested all RFAs to adopt COPTA during the development of CPPs Presentation is focusing on COPTA Facilitation Process Experiences and challenges from adopting COPTA may differ from one RFA to another please explore!

3 COPTA Facilitation Process Select CPP Wards in collaboration with CMAC Introduce COPTA to CMAC members Introduce COPTA to WMAC/Ward leaders Select 3 Ward Facilitators (WFs) per ward (incl. WEO)

4 COPTA Facilitation Process (cont.) Train WFs on use of COPTA Select CPP villages from selected Wards Conduct initial meeting with VMAC /village leaders to introduce COPTA and agree on community participatory planning schedule

5 COPTA Facilitation Process (cont.) WFs in collaboration VMAC organize Village Meeting introduce COPTA process select members of 6 FGDs agree on dates for FGDs Select moderator and secretary of each group Orient group moderator and secretary on their role of (i) data capturing and (ii) data analysis during FGDs

6 COPTA Facilitation Process (cont.) Facilitate Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) using the following tools: Questions Community mapping Identification of root causes of problems Prioritization of root causes of listed problems (ranking method) Analysis of root causes of problems ranked in order of priority All FGD members are informed on the ground rules of FGD

7 FGD Questions Information relating to risk-taking behaviour Social economic factors Cultural factors Risk areas within the community where dangerous and risk-taking behaviour occurs Information relating to opportunities within the community Sources of information relating to HIV/AIDS Safe areas in the community Cultural factors protecting against HIV transmission Social support structures available within the community Services dealing with HIV/AIDS offered

8 FGD Questions (cont.) Information related to impact of HIV/AIDS What impact has HIV/AIDS had on Socio-economic status of individuals, families and community Standard of education available in the community Agricultural productivity Quality of social services Any other areas where HIV/AIDS has had an impact

9 Community map shows unsafe places or risk areas where risk-taking behavior is more likely safe places where risk-taking behavior is not likely social services such as schools, dispensaries, water taps/wells orphans and widows homes the homes of the long-term sick - by identifying households that are affected by STI/HIV/AIDS it is not the intention to stigmatize but to act as a guide for care and support activities.

10 Community map an example

11 Identification and prioritization of root causes of problems an example No Root Causes of Problems Total Rank 1 Traditional practices and beliefs Uncommitted leaders Poverty Low education level Excessive alcohol consumption

12 Analysis of priority root causes of problems an example Ra nk Root Causes of Problems Objective Opportuniti es Challenge s Solutions Remarks 1 Traditional practices and beliefs 2 Poverty 3 Excessive alcohol consumption To reduce excessive alcohol consumption within the community NGOs Community theatre Recreation group Limited recreation facilities Inadequate involvemen t of NGOs Coordinat e with NGos Requires external resources and technical support 4 Uncommitted leaders

13 COPTA Facilitation Proce13ss (cont.) Development of Village Action Plan (CPP) 1 st step Analysis of collected data/information Group secretary delivers information and all documents from FGD to VMAC for planning A group of 6 moderators and 6 secretaries of FGDs and members of VMAC/Village leaders Use data from FGDs DO NOT create new data! Data Analyzed in 6 FGDs is merged into 1 data table

14 2 nd step - Formulation of Village Action plan/cpp CPP formulation follows standard structure: overall goal, results/outputs, activities,resources (budget), sources of resources, responsible implementers, timeframe and any other addition remarks. Organize Village meeting for community members to verify the accuracy and relevance of the plan (if the plan does not require any external resources, it is implemented immediately!)

15 3 rd step- Approval of Village Action Plan/CPP Current Practice VMAC submits the Action Plan/CPP to WMAC/WFs WMAC/WFs combines all Action Plans/CPPs into Ward Action Plan (WAP); and submits to CHAC/RFA District Assessment Team/CHAC with technical support from RFA appraise the Action Plans/CPPs; and submits to CMAC for approval CMAC approved plans/cpps are submitted to RFA/TACAIDS for funding

16 3 rd step- Approval of Village Action Plan/CPP Ideal Scenario VMAC submits the Action Plan/CPP to WMAC WMAC combines all Action Plans/CPPs into Ward Action Plan (WAP); and submits to the CMAC for resource allocation and approval On the other hand, VMAC sends the raw data and documentation from FGDs directly to the council CHAC/CMAC for further analysis and allocation resources from government and other stakeholders (now those plans/cpps that require external resources are ready to be implemented!)

17 Experiences It is significant and valuable because: it facilitates community driven responses to HIV/AIDS, essential for effective and sustainable initiatives it compliments the National Policy and NMSF for HIV/AIDS has a potential to improve HIV/AIDS planning at the Council level

18 Experiences (cont.) has a potential to strengthening community participation in the response to HIV/AIDS has ability to capture qualitative data and translate this into an HIV/AIDS Action Plan It is a gender sensitive and results focused tool

19 Experiences It is a gender sensitive and user friendly tool COPTA recognize use of existing strictures and therefore creating ownership of process and increases accountability COPTA facilitation process calls for the participation of key stakeholders at councils which increases accountability Community members are involved in the identification, designing, planning and implementation of HIV/AIDS activities this creates ownership and make information more transparent

20 Opportunities Availability of technical personnel that is trained in participatory methodologies at council level to act as Ward Facilitators Existing legal framework for the formation of structures for HIV/response at Council level CMAC, WMAC, VMAC Willingness of Council leaders to mobilize community members Community recognition of the need to respond to HIV and AIDS

21 Challenges Limited functioning of VMACs and WMACs in most councils Most of developed plans/cpp indicate over dependency to external resources! Most CPPs focus on support to Orphans & MVCs; NOT in preventing new HIV infections Inadequate involvement of PLHIV needs consideration during the selection of 6 FGDs members Inadequate knowledge of National Policy and NMSF by the Ward Facilitators to guide the community members during the planning exercise

22 Challenges (cont.) Voluntary nature of COPTA facilitation Vs poor participation of community members Long duration required to facilitate COPTA steps and processes Vs urgency of the matter! Cost of facilitating important activities and COPTA processes Turn over of council technical staff /trained WFs Cost of CPP development per village Vs resources allocation per CPP Time between development of CPPs and disbursement of fund Vs community priorities

23 Challenges (cont.) How to follow up and gain impact from funded CPPs under the weak functioning of VMACs and WMAC; and limited funds at CMAC level Period between funding request and release by TACAIDS Vs RFA project period of 3 years! sustainability of initiated CPP activities Including COPTA facilitation process and CPP funding into Council Plans & MTEF

24 AHSANTENI SANA KWA KUNISIKILIZA!