HIV/AIDS Working Group
The HIV/AIDS working group is a sub-working group of the Insitutional Development Working Group.
Impacts of HIV & AIDS on NGOs and conservancies
- Sickness and death
- Absenteeism from NGO and conservancy activities
- Loss of manpower and institutional capacity at NGO and conservancy level
- Loss of skills and expertise
- Loss of indigenous knowledge
- Loss of leadership
- Loss of NGO and conservancy income
- Funds reallocated to support people living with HIV/AIDS
- High staff turnover
- Extra load on others
- Slows the reaching of objectives
- Institutional breakdown
And on natural resources...
- Loss of human caretakers of natural resources
- Reduction in household labour
- Transfer of land to next generation is disrupted
Resulting in the under- or over- use of natural resources e.g. poaching, desertification and the potential benefits from natural resources not being gained.
The CBNRM programme can contribute to the spread - or prevention - of HIV because it brings new ideas and developments; creates new social structures such as conservancy committees, membership and employees; has significant impacts on culture through bringing exposure to different thinking and behaviour; and creates economic opportunities, jobs and high staff mobility.
In response, NACSO has developed a programme to mainstream HIV & AIDS issues within the environment sector. NACSO works with member NGOs, conservancies, other CBNRM units and partners in the health and environment sectors. The programme recognises that the priority is to sustain human life in order to sustain the natural resources on which we depend for livelihoods; it mainstreams HIV & AIDS into the CBNRM programme and into the work of NGO staff, and conservancy employees and leaders who live within the communities.
Activities
NACSO works through the CBNRM Programme network to train member NGOs to develop Work Place HIV & AIDS Policies and Programmes. It also assists NGOs to support conservancies and other CBNRM units to develop HIV & AIDS Policies and Programmes. NACSO and the member NGOs work through existing conservancy structures and through other structures and agencies.
Progress at NGO Level
- HIV policies in place in 11 NGOs; Information Corners in 14 NGOs; Peer Educator programmes in 12 NGOs
- Selective, targetted staff training
- Adoption of HIV & AIDS Charters and other relevant materials
- Annual review of Medical Aid policies to explore best options and access to services such as VCT, treatment, care and support
- Establishment of social support structures to support people living with HIV/AIDS
Progress at Conservancy Level
- Establishment of Conservancy and Village HIV & AIDS Forums
- Development of Conservancy HIV & AIDS policies
- Training of Peer Educators
- Mainstreaming of HIV messages into all CBNRM activities
- Establishment of Awareness Raising Corners at all social outlets within conservancies
- Establishment of social support structures to OVC and AIDS-affected households
- Creation of linkages and networks to ensure access to services e.g. VCT, treatment, care and support
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