With the resources available from the JFA, GFATM and other bilateral donors, the sub-granting programme has enabled the ZNAN Secretariat to partially fulfil its mandate relating to resource mobilisation on behalf of civil society organizations. CSOs have been enabled broader access to HIV and AIDS funding and have in turn increased the scope of their HIV and AIDS response. Further, the sub-granting system has been instrumental in getting funding to some NGOs and CBOs based in underserved rural and remote parts of the country.

ZNAN will continue to diversify the sub-grant portfolio, to enable higher disbursements for the underserved and hard to reach districts and rural provinces. The establishment of provincial offices, strengthening of provincial committees and Selected member organisations, out-reach visits and on-going use of widely accessible media (Print and electronic) and presentations at NGO/CBO meetings will assist in generating the required demand in the underserved areas.

In addition, explicit measures will be adopted for assisting weaker CSOs in underserved provinces to access sub-granting funds. This assistance will include on-the-spot assistance in proposal writing and other skills required to meet the proposal qualification thresholds. The uneven distribution of funding can partly be attributable to the lack of capacity among CSOs in rural areas in proposal writing skills and adequate information to draft viable sub-grant proposals. The envisaged technical support and deliberate efforts to reach the underserved will therefore assist in re-dressing the situation.  

Another area of consideration under sub-granting will be a systematic review and strengthening of the private sector (for profit) portfolio. This is a crucial part of civil society requiring explicit attention. The relevant activities will include: (i) Identification of the appropriate lead agency/agencies, (ii) partnership building for resource mobilisation, (iii) review of appropriateness of the current tools and procedures in addressing “big private business” versus “small, informal entrepreneurs.”    

ZNAN will also use the sub-granting programme to encourage and facilitate the delivery of comprehensive HIV and AIDS services, in line with the national and global intentions for universal access to prevention, treatment and care. The measures to be employed are (i) according high priority to project proposals that reflect comprehensiveness in service delivery, and (ii) promoting joint proposals among NGOs and CBOs with multiple services as a way of fostering synergised, comprehensive services delivery. The field appraisal tool and grants manual will be reviewed to include such criteria.

ZNAN will also use the sub granting programme to target women as a particularly vulnerable group. This will be achieved through economic empowerment, social mobilisation and advocacy.

The ZNAN sub-granting tools and procedures are regarded as available/accessible, flexible and relevant for various types of CSOs and service areas. Further reviews and improvements will however be undertaken to specifically address issues related to concurrent multiple sources funding. The documents to be reviewed will include the grants manual, and appraisal tools (desk & field). The approval criteria will also be reviewed to ascertain areas of improvements and efficiency gains. The review will be highly consultative before approval and rollout so that the final results of the reviews and revisions will add value to the sub-granting mechanism of ZNAN.

In addition, a review will also be undertaken to increase the scope of thematic areas to be funded. This is in recognition of new emerging issues that where not initially included in the definition of the scope or to qualifying programmes to be funded. Notably amongst the areas to be considered are issues to do with Human and Women rights, child labour, rights of children, human trafficking, food security, poverty reduction, and alcohol and substance abuse

A review of the current Lead Agencies will also be undertaken to ascertain their relevance and qualification to their original mandate. This review will indicate which Lead Agencies has ceased to qualify, and which of the Lead Agencies should either drop some or take on new thematic areas due to comparative advantages. An assessment of new Lead Agencies will be undertaken as well to include new emerging issues thus lead to a more inclusive and comprehensive scope in service delivery.