1.1. National context of the ZNAN mandate

The Zambia National AIDS Network (ZNAN) was established in June 1994 with the primary mandate of promoting liaison, collaboration and co-ordination among NGOs and CBOs involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This core mandate of ZNAN remains the basis for networking among its member organisations. ZNAN has overtime experienced phenomenal growth in terms of its structure and scope of responsibility. The expanded role of sub-granting funds from the Global Fund and other bilateral donors has brought about a significant expansion of the size of the Secretariat and a broader focus of its services as it has to deal with all Civil Society Organisations dealing in HIV/AIDS in Zambia.

ZNAN has become a major player in the national institutional framework for responding to the pandemic as demonstrated by its having representation on the National AIDS Council (NAC) and the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM). In addition, the organisation is also represented on various Technical Working Groups (TWGs) at NAC. At the Global Level, ZNAN has gained recognition through its selection as member of the Board of Global Fund to fight Tuberculosis, AIDS and Malaria (GFTAM).

The Government of Zambia recognises HIV/AIDS as a development issue and as such it is being mainstreamed in the national planning including the National HIV/AIDS/TB Strategic Plan (NASP). In order to stay abreast with the planning timeframes of other key players in the fight against HIV/AIDS at national level, ZNAN has taken the initiative to align its strategic plan with the National Health Strategic Plan (NHSP), which will be implemented over the period 2006 – 2010.  Given that the NHSP is essentially derived from the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP), the alignment of the ZNAN strategic plan to the NASP is also supporting the organisation’s contribution to this national development plan.

Apart from aligning itself to these national planning frameworks, ZNAN has established working relationships with various other institutions to ensure that it contributes to the creation of a national synergy in the delivery of HIV/AIDS services and ensuring that the challenges of this pandemic are addressed from all fronts. In this regard, ZNAN maintains these working relationships through Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with relevant partner institutions and Cooperating Partners, including NAC, Churches Health Associations of Zambia (CHAZ), the Royal Netherlands Government and the Royal Norwegian Government (through a Joint Financing Arrangement -JFA) and the private sector.

1.2. Background

The Zambia National AIDS Network (ZNAN) was established in June, 1994 with the primary objective of promoting liaison, collaboration and co-ordination among NGOs and CBOs involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and care. The origins of ZNAN can be traced to the Regional Conference held in Kenya, Nairobi in, 1988.  Participation of Zambian NGOs at this Conference made them realise that in order to effectively fight the HI/AIDS pandemic liaison, collaboration and co-ordination were of outmost importance.  This was because the ethical, technical and managerial demands and challenges of HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation had assumed such high dimensions that they could not be effectively and efficiently tackled by any one individual or even a few organisations.

Therefore, it was realised that the point of departure in combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic was to build solidarity among NGOs and CBOs involved in HIV/AIDS work. That would make it possible to unite for a common cause and advocate for strong social and political will, which were seen as being cardinal to fighting HIV/AIDS. In addition, liaison, collaboration and co-ordination would make it possible for NGOs and CBOs to pull their meagre technical, managerial and financial resources together, with the view to meet the increased demands and rising expectations from society in regard to the HIV/ADS pandemic.

Against this background, in 1989, the NGOs formed a National AIDS Co-ordinating Committee whose mandate was to co-ordinate the activities of NGOs and CBOs involved in HIV/AIDS work.  Initially, therefore, this Committee began to co-ordinate NGO activities that were carried out on an informal basis and also in an adhoc manner such as the Annual National AIDS Conference. As time went on, it was recognised that networking among NGOs needed to be strengthened.  This was one of the major resolutions made “at the 1^st Congress of NGOs during the 4^th National AIDS Conference held between 23^rd and 24^th March, 1994”.  Consequently, the Zambia National AIDS Network was formally registered on 16^th June 1994.

Categories of ZNAN membership

                ZNAN membership emanates from the following categories in which member organizations are involved in their HIV/AIDS work in Zambia:

·         Home Based Care (HBC) Community Based Organisations (CBOs)

·         Community Based grassroots organizations other than HBCs

·         Anti-Aids Clubs

·         Youth and AIDS Organisations

·         Care and Support to Orphans and Vulnerable Children(OVC)

·         Care and support to PLWAs

·         Care and support to mother and child

·         Women and AIDS

·         Voluntary Counselling and Testing

·         Government and Quasi Government Institutions

·         Information, Education and Communication (IEC) organizations

·         Faith Based Organisations

·         Locally Based International NGOs

All local AIDS service Non-government Organisations and CBOs are accorded full membership of the Network whereas locally based international NGOs and government/quasi government organizations are accorded associate membership as provided for in the ZNAN constitution.

1.3 The Mission Statement

ZNAN is a network of civil society organisations with a mandate to promote and facilitate their liaison, coordination, resource mobilisation and capacity building in order to enable them effectively respond to the challenges of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis in Zambia. ZNAN will do this in collaboration with government, Cooperating Partners and other stakeholders.

1.4           The objectives

The objectives of the Zambia National AIDS Network include the following:

a.          To facilitate information sharing among members and other interested parties.

b.          To facilitate the exchange of resources and expertise among member organizations and other interested parties.

c.          To represent and advocate for the interest of member NGOs and others involved in HIV/AIDS activities.

d.         To seek to arrive at common position in social, economic, medical and to articulate the same to relevant authorities.

e.         To provide services that aim at strengthening the capacity of personnel and their member organizations in their contribution to the campaign against HIV/AIDS.

1.5.    Justification for the Existence and Financial Assistance to Zambia National AIDS Network         

a.         It has been largely acknowledged that the NGOs, CBOs and Church Organisations have been responsible for implementing activities aimed at preventing the further spread of HIV and for providing care and support of people affected by HIV/AIDS.  However, these activities have been small and limited in coverage and have remained pilot Programmes.  A number of these Programmes have been evaluated and found effective.  There is therefore, need to share these best practices so that they are replicated or adapted for local relevance so as to benefit more people.

b.          Whilst NGO activity has been commendable, it has been observed that NGOs tend to duplicate activities especially on the line of rail and there is need for NGOs to have an effective platform for effective networking so as to facilitate joint programming to allow members to hive off Programmes to others where appropriate so as to avoid duplication and marginalization of other geographical areas.

c.          It is also necessary for NGOs to be kept abreast of the latest developments and information on HIV/AIDS.  There is need to have a strong secretariat to access this information from the internet, publications, and any other sources for dissemination to members.

d.          Whilst NGOs and CBOs have well-intended and appropriate Programmes, most of them lack the capacity to implement, record and report on them systematically.  There is, therefore, need for a strong network that would facilitate capacity building

e.           It is necessary for smaller NGOs to benefit from the experiences of more established NGOs.

f.          NGOs, CBOs and Church Organisations have the first interface with grassroot communities and are well informed about issues that affect them, a strong network is therefore needed to present these issues to relevant authorities and press for the development of policies that address their concerns.

g.         There is also need for a strong network to lobby government and donor community for support to NGO activity, financially, technically and politically.  NGOs need to lobby government for a strong political commitment, which also translates into budgetary commitment.

h.         There is need for a strong NGO network to represent NGO interest in government bodies and other institutions such as the National Aids Council and other regional and international groupings.

2.0. ZNAN Strategic Directions

ZNAN is addressing the following strategic directions with this strategic plan:

2.1. Regional and International Networking  

ZNAN belongs to a family of Non-governmental International AIDS service organizations co-ordinated by the International Council of AIDS Service Organisations (ICASO) headquartered in Canada.  In Africa, the African Council of AIDS Service Organisations (AfriCASO) is charged with the responsibility of co-ordination African regional organizations.  Southern Africa Network of AIDS Service Organisations (SANASO) co-ordinates the Southern Africa Region. Each regional organization has country representatives and ZNAN for that matter is also a country representative for SANASO.

2.2. Local Networking

Currently, there is a move toward establishing provincial offices to facilitate the decentralisation of ZNAN services to the provinces. This process is however being done in a selective manner as the needs of these services are varied in the different provinces. So far a provincial office has been established on the Copperbelt and three are in the process of being established for Northern, Southern and Western Provinces. As part of the initiative to decentralise ZNAN services, the establishment of these provincial offices will enhance networking activities at those levels as there will be a felt presence of ZNAN. Provincial and district ZNAN committees have been in existence for some time.

2.3. Capacity building

ZNAN provides capacity building to NGOs and CBOs dealing in HIV/AIDS. Various CSOs have been trained in financial management and monitoring and evaluation.

2.4. Sub granting

ZNAN is currently sub granting funds to support various programmes being implemented by NGOs and CBOs. Notably, these CSOs have made tremendous contributions towards preventing the further spread of HIV/AIDS and mitigation of its impact on families and communities. Over 400 CSOs are being supported with grants from ZNAN every year

2.5. Advocacy

HIV/AIDS has increasingly become a human rights issue as it affects the core of human existence individually as well as in communities. ZNAN and the rest of the Civil society have been at the forefront in the fight against the pandemic and admittedly the bulk of the work in responding to the challenges of this problem is still in the hands of NGOs and CBOs which continue to champion the cause of individuals and communities in this fight. Through their committed work of putting a ‘human face’ to HIV/AIDS, civil society has brought to the fore the rights of people affected by it in one way or another. Currently the government has committed itself to adopting the universal access to treatment in line with the global trends. The adoption of this approach by government will require strong advocacy from civil society to ensure that the commitments are met. As an example the extent to which the 250,000 people who are eligible to be on free Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), will access this treatment will largely be influenced by active advocacy by civil society.