Learning Group for Capacity Building Providers

The aim of the learning group is to strengthen capacity building providers in sub-Saharan Africa to provide higher quality services in HIV/AIDS internal mainstreaming to CSOs. We are developing a small group of CB providers into an Africa-wide learning group which works through the following activities:

•Action learning and research: each year some of the learning group members will reflect and learn from their organisational experience in HIV workplace programmes (action learning) or undertake short action research projects (action research). These will be written up as Praxis notes and papers.

•Email contact and discussion

•Face to face meetings: next meeting is planned for November 2008

Why should Capacity Building Providers React?

Over the past three years INTRAC has produced publications on HIV/AIDS in the workplace analysing the implications for capacity building providers. They highlight that Capacity builders need to be very aware of the issues and have the competencies to support clients in addressing HIV/AIDS mainstreaming in their external programmes and relationships as well as in their internal organisation. Download the full paper.

Stories of Impact

One of the publications tells a story of how Dorothy, one of CDRN's staff members, became sick and passed away. It is a story that is becoming all too familiar in Africa. We share it in the hope that the story of Dorothy’s death provokes you to realise that AIDS can happen to your organisation; that it does help to be prepared; and yet however prepared you are, AIDS in the organisation is so painful and costly that it shakes you to the core and challenges your very values. Download the full paper.

Counting the Cost of HIV/AIDS to CSOs

Research undertaken in Malawi, Uganda and Tanzania in 2005 revealed that at least one staff member had died of AIDS in more than 60 per cent of responding CSOs. HIV/AIDS leads to rising medical, funeral and pension costs for CSOs — increasing staff bills by seven per cent and reducing productivity by ten per cent per year, according to research estimates. The report concludes that HIV costs development agencies considerably more money to do significantly less work. Download the full paper.

Why should you react?

• CB providers are in a key position to promote CSOs to respond to the challenge that HIV/AIDS poses to their organisation.

• The cost of not responding is higher than the cost of responding

How to join the group

•If you would like to join the learning group please email the group leader Joyce Mataya from CABUNGO in Malawi.

For more relevant literature and documents access our resource database on HIV/AIDS in the workplace