Through the support from GIZ, Zimbabwe AIDS Network is implementing the 3×3 CSO capacity strengthening project in its 10 Chapters. The project seeks to capacitate and strengthen the participation of Civil Society Organizations in the Global Fund writing processes. The project also aim to strengthen data and evidence collection during the writing process that will promote evidence and needs based programming.
In one of its key activities, the Zimbabwe AIDS Network brought together its membership across the 10 provinces during its 1st Quarter Chapter meetings where more than 200 organizations received an appreciation of the Global Fund model, its writing processes as well as the basics on effective resource mobilzation.
A STEPPING STONE TO CSOS’ PARTICIPATION IN GLOBAL FINANCING MECHANISMS
Speaking during the Mashonaland West Chapter Meeting, the Director for Pamuhacha HIV&AIDS Prevention Project, Precious Nyamukondiwa stated the need to ensure that calls and information pertaining these writing processes reaches everyone. “We do not even know when do the committees sit to write the Global Fund Grant. We are not aware and the information is centralised to the top, perhaps the capital,” she claimed. Mrs Nyamukondiwa went further to share that many CSOs do not have funding to be participating in these processes hence they are left out as they cannot finance themselves to attend the meetings which normally are done in the capital, Harare.
“This initiative comes at the right time when the country is preparing for the next Global Fund in 2023 and it is important for the CSOs to be well capacitated to participate in writing as well as securing their niche from the Global Fund” said Mrs Nyamukondiwa.
Sharing his experience of the writing processes, Mr Pemberai Zambezi from FACT Zimbabwe indicated the need to strengthen collection of data and evidence in order to support the narratives that builds up to the prioritization exercises. “The presentation of data to the drawing table is important when it comes to the Global Fund writing process as Zimbabwe is now working through a new model and that entails that different sectors meet up to claim their niche of the fund and it is important to back up your claims with facts,” said MR FACT. He reiterated the importance of physical presence of Interested parties to sit and discuss priorities of the country, thus bringing the aforementioned facts to the table.
Mr Zambezi highlighted the key challenges that affect Civil Society’s participation during these writing processes as firstly limited resources to attend and secondly limited information with regards to the processes.
“There is need to consider channeling resources for the participation of Civil Society Organizations to attend these processes so as to ensure that the populations and communities they represent are included in the prioritization exercises.” He added.