HIV-911 Programme

HIV-911 specializes in data collection and referrals to close to 13 000 HIV-related support services covering prevention, treatment and support across South Africa. HIV-911 also creates networking opportunities for service providers to more effectively connect with one another, locate and recommend supplementary support services for their clients. 

To access HIV-911: 

• view the directory online www.hiv911.org.za; 
• call the data collection / referral line 0860 HIV 911 / 0860 448 911 during office hours;
• call the National AIDS Helpline 24-hours a day;
• HIV-911 is now also available via Vodacom’s the Grid - South Africa’s first location-based mobile social network available to everyone who has a WAP-enabled cellphone. To access the Grid SMS ‘GRID’ to 33313 (50c/SMS) or visit http://onthegrid.mobi/;
• we are currently developing other mobile phone directory formats which will be available in early 2010.
• order hard copy provincial directories from HIV-911 by calling 031 260 3052 (Series 3 now in production).

HIV-911 / HIVAN is a Centre of the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is currently funded by USAID / PEPFAR, DG Murray Trust, Discovery and AECI.

Networking HIV Aids Community of South Africa (NACOSA)

Address: HEAD OFFICE: CAPE TOWN
6th Floor, Norlen House,
17 Buitenkant Street
Cape Town
Telephone Number (Office) 021 461 7348
e-mail: director@nacosa.org.za
website: www.nacosa.or.za

Description:

Programmatic:

The Networking HIV Aids Community of South Africa (NACOSA), with its vision “Collectively turning the tide on HIV, AIDS and TB” seeks to make a critical contribution in reducing the effect/impact of HIV/AIDS and TB in Southern Africa through building capacity, networking and strengthening the multi-sectoral response to HIV, AIDS and TB.
 NACOSA is a National civil society network of 994 organisations and individuals. Our network is enormously diverse: It covers a broad range of non-governmental organisations, i.e. home based care organisations, organisations focusing on orphans and vulnerable children (OVC),  gender based violence (GBV),  youth organisations, faith based organisations, women’s organisations, private sector organisations and organisations delivering specialist services to high risk and vulnerable groups operating in the HIV/AIDS and TB field.  We also have members from district and local government structures and health facilities, HIV and AIDS advocacy and service providers, trade unions, faith based groups, day-care and drop-in centres, educational institutions and a vast array of community-based care organizations.  NACOSA  coordinates two sector specific coalitions, for the Children’s and Community Home Based Care sectors respectively. 

NACOSA emerged from a national conference in 1991 and its history is firmly rooted in the lobbying for and development of the first National AIDS Plan for South Africa.   Since then NACOSA has remained a National strategic role player in the HIV/AIDS field.  This is confirmed by the fact the organisation was elected to represent both the NGO and Children’s sectors on National and provincial structures, including SANAC and the RMC.  NACOSA also represents the sector on various Provincial Aids Councils and other strategic decision making structures.

NACOSA s key objectives, which form the central and core programme offered by the organization, is the following:

• Providing organisational capacity and technical support to HIV/AIDS/TB NGOs and CBOs through direct mentoring, coaching, training and support services, as well as access to seed funding “small grants” for a 2 year period. Organisations on the mentoring program are supported to design and implement programs addressing HIV/AIDS in a gender responsive manner, also focusing on OVC, community based care and other vulnerable groups and priority areas. 

During this mentoring period the organisations are closely monitored and report monthly on programmatic as well as financial progress. Organisations prepare a budget and programme for the period they will be receiving a grant. Checks and balances are put in place to monitor expenses and operational outputs in terms of the agreed budget and programme plan.  A typical budget will include stipends to community workers/ care givers, organisational, overhead and program costs.
NACOSA has expanded this role during the past couple of years, to a level where we are providing capacity building assistance for NGO/CBOs to align their programmes to district and sub-district priorities.  This calls for more sustainable funding, and NACOSA has been mandated to access funding on behalf of the sector. Currently NACOSA is supporting 52 CBO’s.

• Building Networks and Mobilising for Joint Action Program which offers strategic communication and information sharing to strengthen the HIV/AIDS sector. Through this programme, NACOSA develops a strong HIV/AIDS/TB network, encouraging organisations to work together towards a common goal. NACOSA facilitates this process through

• The provision of information and a database of service organisations,
• Quarterly newsletters to our network and wider;
• Quarterly consultative and supportive forums for the HIV/AIDS/TB sector in all districts of the Western Cape and selected districts in the Northern, Eastern Cape and Free State.
• NACOSA brings the HIV/AIDS community together for networking, capacity strengthening and mapping of services on a regular basis through the above and our Masibambisane conferences. The Western Cape’s current Community Based Response (CBR) programme of the Global Fund Grant (round 3) was the brainchild of and endorsed by the Masibambisane 1 conference. The 4th Masibambisane 5 day conference is planned for September 2010 and will provide an opportunity for 500 civil society and government role players to network and plan.  

• Promoting dialogue between government, civil society and other relevant HIV, AIDS and TB role players and influence government’s HIV/AIDS policy and action through representation on various SANAC structures, Provincial AIDS Councils and other decision-making bodies, whilst strengthening and building capacity of local district HIV/AIDS & TB forums assisting the HIV/AIDS & TB sector to develop local (district and sub-district) plans to supplement the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP). 

4.     Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Planning, Implementation and Monitoring,  The first step in this process is the development of local (district and sub-district) plans, followed by support to  individual organizations to align their programmes to address local needs (aligned to the NSP and PSP).   This process aims to facilitate joint, coordinated action and a united response and might also inform funding strategies. NACOSA started this process in the Western Cape and there is a need to expand it to other provinces.

NACOSA runs a generic programme as well as two sector-specific specialist programmes for the Children’s and Community Home Based Care sectors.   NACOSA’s specialist programmes are further strengthened by its networks for children’s and community home based care organisations, being the Children’s HIV/AIDS Network (CHAiN) and the Community Based Care Coalition (CBCC) respectively. The purpose of these networks is to bring service organisations and their members together, to create a people’s network around caring and health in order to share resources, establish standards of care and formalise a partnership between the service organisations and various decision makers, including government departments.  Advocating for policy changes, which lead to improvements in the lives of people with HIV and their families (including children), forms one of the fundamental cornerstones of both networks.

Governance and Managerial:
NACOSA has a dedicated, skilled staff component of 23 and a committed, representative Executive Committee of 17.  The NACOSA Executive Committee include various high level Health and HIV/AIDS experts, as well as representatives from health districts, provinces and  networking partners. The 3 government departments comprising the social cluster addressing HIV/AIDS (Health, Social development and Education) are represented at high level to ensure that strategic programming is done in line with existing policies.  The full executive committee meets every 4 months.

An Executive Management Committee of 3 (Chairperson, vice-chairperson and treasurer) meets with the Executive Director on a 2 monthly basis to input into ongoing strategic decision making.

An internal management committee comprising of the Executive Director, Provincial and National Programme managers meets on a monthly basis to monitor, evaluate and discuss strategic as well as operational issues.

NACOAS’s strength and effectiveness is enhanced by the fact that it has strong partnerships and collaborative agreements with various strategic National organisations and networks in all provinces of South Africa (strategically as well as operationally.) 

It is with this mandate that NACOSA is elected and represents the collective HIV/AIDS  NGO and CBO community  (as well as the Children’s and Community Based Care sectors) on Provincial AIDS Councils,  the Western Cape Global Fund management committee, South African National Aids Council (SANAC) working groups, the RMC and various other representative structures. 

Financial
NACOSA has a long history of strong financial systems and oversight. The organisation has been receiving grants from various international as well as national donors over the past 18 years.  NACOSA has extensive experience and expertise as a conduit for funding to NGOs and CBOs and has successfully managed a large National Development Agency grant for the NGO sector. Currently NACOSA provides mentoring, training, and small grants to 52 CBOs in 4 Provinces and are seeking funds to roll this programme out to additional Provinces, including the Free State and KZN. NACOSA has a national financial manger and supporting staff to fulfil this function.  Their accounts are audited annually.

The AIDS Consortium was established in 1992 by Justice Edwin Cameron, today a Judge of the Constitutional  Court , along with  other HIV/AIDS activists. Its objective was to promote a non-discriminatory response to HIV/AIDS based on people’s basic human rights as enshrined in the South African constitution. The founding document of The AIDS Consortium was The AIDS Charter, which set out the basic human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS
The AC was established as an independent NGO in Braamfontein at its first AGM in 1998 where 225 members ratified the constitution.
In July 2000 the AC registered as a Section 21 company and is a membership based organisation bringing together a network of over 1000 AIDS service organisations (ASO's) and individuals addressing the AIDS pandemic in Southern Africa.

The AIDS Consortium (The AC) is a network organisation who build the capacity and skill if of their affiliated members in order to provide them with the necessary tools to provide services to their beneficariaries,hence ‘touch one reach many’. By providing communication and messaging, capacity building, training and mentorship, information dissemination, Distribution hubs, libraries, Cyber Cafes and , leadership and guidance to affiliates, The AC is  able to help shape the response against HIV/AIDS in various communities. Networking and collaboration with organisations working in this field are key to shaping the response, whilst also acting as secretariat to the NGO sector of SANAC.  

Vision

A driving force for social change and competence in HIV leadership.

Mission

The AIDS Consortium uplifts communities by building AIDS competence and leadership within its national network, with a specific focus on human rights.

Objectives

1) To bring together communities in a network that facilitates and mobilises change by addressing human rights issues arising in relation to HIV/AIDS. A network that can challenge forms of unfair discrimination on the basis of HIV/AIDS and to deliver a measurable response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic
2) To provide direct engagement with AIDS service organisations, individuals and stakeholders to address the needs, issues and challenges facing people with HIV/AIDS
3) To uphold the ethos and values as outlined in the HIV/AIDS Charter, which is a founding document of the organisation