Community Networks, Linkages, Partnerships & Coordination

Community Structures

This project seeks to strengthen and empower community action in the implementation of projects relevant to their community.

As part of the Global Fund Project ACHAP implements the CSS module. The CSS module is premised on the four pillars as espoused in the global fund guidance on CSS which are; Social mobilization for enabling environment and advocacy for quality and effective service delivery, Social mobilization for networks linkages, partnerships and coordination, social mobilization and accountability for accessing and delivery of quality activities and services, and social mobilization for community monitoring, evaluation and planning.

The CSS module is implemented in the 10 TB/HIV districts being Kweneng West, Kgalagadi North, Palapye, Serowe, Selebi Phikwe, Francistown, Tutume, Boteti, Ngami Land and Okavango. The module is implemented by both ACHAP and Kagisano Women’s Shelter Society. Kagisano implements the training component which focuses on capacity building efforts for NGOs ad CBOs working in communities while ACHAP implements the CSS component at the community level working with structures like VDC, VHCs.

CSS module seeks to engender community ownership and leadership as one of the critical enablers to a successful HIV response and TB programme management in communities. The existing community systems structures have played a key role in mobilizing and engaging communities for uptake of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services and TB control. The success of Botswana’s biomedical programmes such as ART, PMTCT and TB can be attributed to communities working in partnership with district managements and health facilities to provide community support systems for people living with HIV and TB for community treatment literacy and adherence support.

Community Based Organizations

This project is being implemented by Kagisano Society Women’s Shelter (KSWS) as the ACHAP’s Sub-Recepient(SR). KSWS works with thirty four (34) civil society organisations and community groups to build capacity at programme and organisational level, in addition to providing technical support to identified twenty six (26) civil society organisations and community groups. Though the civil society and community groups are vital in the response to HIV/TB and have played a well-recognized role in expanding access to services, opportunities to engage them in TB/HIV activities are currently untapped, and difficult to quantify their contribution. Building their capacity is therefore essential if they are to maximize their contribution and deliver at full capacity to assist to achieve national targets on treatment coverage, treatment adherence, VMMC coverage and demand creation, PMTCT especially reduction of unwanted pregnancies among HIV positive women including teenage pregnancy, community TB care and improved treatment outcomes for TB. Key capacity gaps include governance and leadership, strategic planning, resource mobilization, financial management, program design, management and implementation, monitoring and evaluation.