STATEMENT ON THE WORKSHOP OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL AIDS COUNCIL HELD IN CAPE TOWN ON 5 OCTOBER 2002

Issued by: Government Communication Information System (GCIS)

6 October 2002

The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), met in Cape Town at the Tuynhuys on 5 October 2002, to review its effectiveness over the first two and a half years of its existence in strengthening the partnership of all sectors of South African society to fight HIV/AIDS.

In reviewing the Council's work the workshop focused in particular on its structure and operations. It decided to streamline the operations; strengthen the Secretariat, broaden non-governmental sector representation and to move to a position in which sector representatives are selected by the sectors themselves.

The meeting also received recommendation regarding proposals for the second round of submissions to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. The recommendations have been endorsed by SANAC as the Country Co-ordinating Mechanism. Details regarding which proposals have been submitted will be made public once those who put forward proposals to SANAC have been informed of the outcome of their applications.

As part of improving the work of SANAC, members discussed the current structure of SANAC, its ability to meet and implement fully its mandate. The decisions that were taken are detailed below.

SANAC membership

The life of the current council was extended until March 2003, to allow for the continuation of the review process and for the implementation of decisions regarding operations and transition to a new structure. As part of the review process, the meeting discussed the manner in which SANAC members should be appointed and reviewed the current representation of SANAC. It was decided that:

• The non-governmental membership of SANAC should be determined by the sectors, in consultation with the community;
• The nomination and appointment of sector representatives of SANAC should be a transparent process;
• The addition of new sectors such as men, business, scientists/academics and children should be investigated and recommendations made to the next meting of SANAC.

SANAC structure

In order to make SANAC more effective it was decided that:

• The full SANAC council should meet quarterly to advise government on strategy and policy;
• A smaller executive management team of SANAC members will meet monthly or fortnightly to implement SANAC decisions and respond to urgent matters;
• SANAC should be strengthened for more effective fulfilment of its key brief of advocacy (including mobilisation of resources and support for the campaign against HIV/AIDS).

Capacity Building

Insufficient capacity for SANAC to perform effectively was highlighted both in terms of the Secretariat and the Sector representatives. The meeting identified a need to address and strengthen capacity of the Secretariat and improve its capacity to support the Sector representatives. It was decided that:

• The structure and capacity of the secretariat of SANAC, as a support structure needs to be reviewed and strengthened, in particular with regards co-ordination, communication, financial administration and the monitoring and evaluation of programmes undertaken by the various sectors;
• Sector representatives of SANAC should be capacitated to operate more effectively and be assisted to develop operational plans, in line with the Five Year Strategic Plan, of which SANAC is the custodian;
• The meeting agreed in principle on the restructuring of the Secretariat, and that issues of location and skills required will be finalised on the basis of practical proposals to be brought to the next meeting.

Technical Task Teams

The meeting, having been briefed on the work of the Technical Task Teams and the challenge of aligning the work of the Task Teams, decided that:

• A review of the work of Technical Task Teams should be undertaken and a report submitted at the next meeting.

Provincial AIDS Councils

The meeting, having identified the need to strengthen the relationship with the Provincial AIDS Councils for purposes of co-ordination and alignment, decided that:

• The smaller executive management team of SANAC members should develop a mechanism to ensure the development of closer links with the Provincial AIDS Councils

Global Fund Applications

The meeting was briefed on the processes and requirements of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the background of the KZN application and the latest applications received for the latest round of applications. The meeting expressed concern regarding insufficient information to SANAC members on application to the Global Fund:

It was decided that;

• The Secretariat should provide members with a summary of Global Fund requirements;
• SANAC should prepare itself for the next, third, round of applications
• The Minister of Health should communicate to the Global Fund South Africa's reservations on the selection of international companies as the fund's local agents, from the perspective of Government's procurement and empowerment policies
• SANAC should endorse proposals for the second round of submissions to the Global Fund.

Way forward

• Sector representatives will report to their sectors on the processes that have been initiated, which will lead to the selection of the sector representatives for the new SANAC that will take office by March 2003.
• Sector representatives should submit plans to the Secretariat by November 1, 2002 indicating the consultative sectoral process of selection of a representative and an alternate member.

Enquiries: Y Abba Omar, 082 414 3383

Issued by Government Communication & Information System (GCIS) on behalf of SANAC

6 October 2002