Following the end of the implementation of the Mutli-Sectoral HIV and AIDS Program (MSHAP), the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) developed a National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan 2011-2015 (NSP 2011-2015) anchored around a National Response of Zero new Infections: “Towards Achieving Universal Access to Comprehensive HIV Services” in Ghana. To facilitate implementation of the program at the local level, the GAC has been working with the Network for Community Planning and Development (NECPAD) since October 2012 to implement strategic HIV and AIDS Prevention activities in 7 District/Municipla/Metropolitan Assemblies in the Southern sector of the Western Region of Ghana..
(including Tarkwa-Nsueam Municipal, Prestea-Huni Valley District, Ahanta West District, Ellembelle District, Jomoro District, Nzema East Municipal and Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assemblies).
The funding arrangement follows a grant management approach in which NECPAD works with local or district/community based NGOs (called Sub-Recipients – SRs) in each implementation area. NECPAD manages the grant on behalf of GAC as together with the SRs do direct implementation in a total of 72 communities in the region. In doing this NECPAD and its SRs collaborate with the Technical Support Unit (TSU) of the GAC under the auspices of the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC)
Client’s Name
Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC)
Approx. Value of contract sum
GHc450,000 (disbursed to date)
Address
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC)
P. O. Box CT 5169
Cantonments, Accra
Contact:
Given the spread and socio-economic dimensions of the HIV and AIDS the national response to disease as viewed by the Ghana’s Ministry of Health (MOH) required a multi-sectoral approach to enhance expansion and scaling up of the response into a multiplicity of interventions in various sectors and levels of government structures including CSOs.
The Network for Community Planning and Development (NECPAD) implemented a project of support on “Prevention of New Infections, Promoting Behaviour Change and Condom Use” in 6 Municipal and District Assemblies of Tarkwa-Nsueam Municipal Assembly, Nzema-East Municipal Assembly, Prestea-Bogoso-Huni Valley District Assembly, Amenfi East District Assembly and Amenfi West District Assembly. The major economy activities of the target districts were either mining, cocoa farming or in oil extraction.
The Goal of the project was “ to reduce new infections in the general population”. The
main objective was “to promote safer sexual practices in the general population especially among vulnerable groups”. Key activities focussed on behaviour change of in-school and out-of-school children, counselling and testing, condom use promotion and influencing behaviour change through mass media. Approaches involved conduct of outreach programmes to increase knowledge and reduce misconceptions, CT outreach to reach target population, organising group activities to reduce stigma and discrimination, provision of pre-testing, HIV testing and post-test counselling services and condom distribution among others.
NECPAD’s core strategy was on building partnerships with district-level CSOs (NGOs, CBOs, FBOs) who, as sub-recipients, were funded for direct implementation at the community level. NECPAD’s role was largely based on grant management, project coordination, monitoring and evaluation, as well as direct action in Municipal Assemblies.
Client’s Name
Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC)
Approx. Value of contract sum
GH₵240,000
(equivalent to US$165,517.21
@ US$1=Gh₵1.45)
i.e. Two year budget
Address
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC)
P. O. Box CT 5169
Cantonments, Accra
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ghanaids.gov.gh
Tel
+233-21-782262 / 782263
Fax +233-21-782264
Prevention and Behavioral Change Communication (BBC) and Mitigating the Economic Impacts of HIV/AIDS with support from the GAC’s MSHAP, the East Akim Municipal Assembly (EAMA) worked with NECPAD towards contributing to the halting of the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Municipality by:
- raising the ranking of issues that provide hope and life to the PLWHA and their families
- promoting drastic changes in behaviours, attitudes and perceptions of the general public on HIV/AIDS victims
- reducing the percentage of adolescence sex and curtail the number of multiple sex partners among the youth
- empowering PLWHA to earn a decent living to reduce their vulnerability
- empowering the youth and young adolescence to become self-reliant
The set of activities NECPAD is providing to help achieve results include:
i. planning and organisation of sensitization workshops for policy/decision makers, traditional authorities, youth, young adolescence, PLWHA and families affected by AIDS to create awareness on high-risk behaviours in the society
ii. conduct of public sensitization campaigns and information dissemination to create awareness and solicit communal support to fight the spread of the epidemic in the district
iii. development and implementation of communication strategies that send strong messages about the socio-economic impacts of HIV/AIDS
iv. development of strategies to train women in alternative livelihood potentialities and to assist them access micro-credit to reduce their vulnerability
v. identification, selection and training of out-of-school youth in income generating activities to empower them become self-sufficient and reduce their dependency on men.
Client’s Name
(GAC/EADA)
Approx. Value of contract sum
GH ₵11,018
Address
East Akim District Assembly (GAC/EADA)
P. O. Box 50 Kibi – E/R