HERAF

Towards Gender Sensitive and Transformative HIV Programming For CSOs
Over the past two decades, research and strategies to combat HIV have increasingly recognised that HIV infection and prevalence levels tend to be higher in women and girls than in men in Kenya, and that the negative social and economic consequences of the HIV& AIDs pandemic weigh most heavily on women and girls. HERAF in collaboration with HENNET, through financial and technical assistance from the German BACKUP Initiative has been implementing a project entitled,” Towards gender sensitive and transformative HIV/AIDS programming for CSOs in Kenya.” The project aims at strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations to use gender analysis for programs and interventions in HIV/AIDs in order to reduce gender-related barriers to its prevention, treatment, support and care.

The specific objectives of the project include;

• Increasing the knowledge and understanding of civil society organisations on the linkages between gender and HIV&AIDS prevention, treatment, support and care
• Strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations to use gender analysis as a basis for gender sensitive and transformative HIV&AIDS programmes and interventions, so as to reduce gender related barriers in prevention, care and treatment, as reflected in their work plans.
• Development of stronger links, collaborations and networking between civil societies organisations working in gender sensitive and gender transformative HIV&AIDs programmes and interventions.

By the end of the project, HERAF aims to have;

• Increased knowledge and understanding among Civil Society Organisations on the linkages between gender and HIV&AIDs prevention, treatment, care and support.
• Strengthened the capacity of Civil Society Organisations to use gender analysis as a basis for gender sensitive and transformative HIV& AIDS programmes and interventions, so as to reduce gender related barriers in HIV prevention, care and treatment as reflected in their work plans.
• Strengthened and enhanced links, collaborations and networking between Civil Society Organisations working in the areas of gender, HIV& AIDs prevention, treatment and care.

The target groups of the project include civil society organisations implementing programmes and interventions in the health sector while the primary beneficiaries will be women, sexual minority groups, boys and girls, people living with HIV & AIDS and the general public.

The programme ran for 3yrs beginning 2009 to 2011 and aimed at strengthening Community Participation in Health Sector Governance and management in Coast, Eastern and Central provinces of Kenya.

OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT

The project aimed at:

• Strengthening the capacity of grassroots communities to hold the government structures accountable in implementing the rights based approach to health care programmes at the district and community level
• Empowering the DHMB/T to represent community interest in the implementation of health sector programmes at the district level
• Improving health service delivery by empowering communities to monitor the quality of health services provided and to demand quality services
• Advocating for transparency and accountability in planning, budgetary allocation and management of resources allocated to the community-based health facilities in order to address prevailing disease conditions.

Project Locations

The project was implemented in three areas namely :

1. Kwale District - Coast province
2. Mbeere District - Eastern Province
3. Nyeri North District - Central Province.

These project locations have different geographical and socio-economic conditions which exposes them to different disease conditions. Plans within the health sector should be able to address different health issues specific to different geographical locations.

Expected Outcome

Through this project, it was expected that the community will be empowered to participate in health sector governance through making contributions to health facility plans so that they address specific issues unique to them. On the other hand, it is expected that the health management teams/Boards will be empowered to make decisions that address the community needs.

Over the last 3 years HERAF under the European Commission has been increasing community members’ participation in health sector management and governance. To scale up this work, we have taken up an OSIEA project titled “Supporting Community’s Role in Monitoring Management and Governance of Health Care Services in Kenya’s Health Facilities”.

The project will use the Community Monitoring and Evaluation (CME) strategy in its implementation to ensure that community members and civil society at the community level are empowered with tools and methods to monitor, evaluate and analyse utilisation of HSSF and HMSF, services delivered and consequently advocate for improvements in their management and governance.

HERAF through the project seeks to instill the values of institutional reforms and good governance, which are important for effective civil society and community participation in the utilisation of the decentralised funds such as HSSF and HMSF in the health sector, which are utilized at the community level.

The reports generated after analysis of data given by community members will be used as tools for holding facility committee members and health care providers accountable on governance, management and service delivery. Identified gaps and challenges in the process will then be addressed through community and national advocacy which will target both community and national level decisions makers.

The overall goal of the project is to support community’s role in monitoring management and governance of health care services in Kenya’s health facilities. In specific the will project aim to:

1) Engage community members in monitoring the management and governance of devolved health sector public funds such as HSSF, HMSF and CDF.

2) Monitor availability and quality of health services accessible to community members from local health facility.

3) Advocate for improvements in health services delivery, management and governance of devolved health funds.

The target groups for the project include community members through Community Health Committees (CHC), Dispensary/Health Centre/Hospital Committees and grassroots civil society organisations including Community Based Organisations, Non Governmental Organisations, Religious Organisations and local community leaders.

The project is being implemented under the UNDP Amkeni Wakenya programme titled “supporting Kenyan civil society to participate more effectively in democratic governance and reforms through implementation of the constitution”

HERAF through this project seeks to promote an informed civil society and citizens who are able to exercise their rights and demand that the right to health be upheld, protected and promoted as envisaged in the constitution order. The overall objective of the project is to promote informed participation of civil society in development and implementation of laws and policy frameworks required for the realisation of Right to Health in Kenya’s Constitution.

Among the specific objectives are:

1) Informing and educating civil society and public about the Constitution, the rights and responsibilities as envisioned in the New Constitution, health related provisions and opportunities created for enhancing the right to health through the production of fact sheets and policy briefs on the constitution and the health provisions provided for.

2) Facilitation of effective participation and engagement of civil society and public in development and implementation of laws and policies required for the implementation of Constitution through organisation of meetings targeting stakeholders.

3) Monitoring and evaluation of the development and implementation of laws and policy frameworks required for realisation of right to health in Kenya’s Constitution.

The targets of this project include Civil society and citizens including NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, Health Sector Networks, and general public as rights holders , and the State organs including commission for the implementation of the constitution (CIC), MOPHS, MOMS, Parliament and development partners as duty bearers.

By the end of the project HERAF will have;

v Enhanced civil society and citizens awareness of the Constitution, the rights and responsibilities envisioned in the New Constitution, health related provisions and opportunities created for enhancing the right to health

v Increased informed participation and engagement of civil society and public in development and implementation of laws and policies required for the implementation of the New Constitution

v Improved understanding of the role of Civil Society in the implementation of health sector provisions under the new Constitution.

v Enhanced engagement of civil society and citizens in policy and legislative process under the New Constitution

v Contributed to the formulation and passing of new health polices and legislations conforming to the right to health provisions in the new Constitution.