TSF-WCA’s CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR EFFECTIVE AIDS RESPONSE

Capacity development of consultants and program managers of country partner organisations implementing national and regional aids programmes in the west and central African region is one of the main objectives of TSF-WCA..

Many stakeholder organisations including civil society organisations, government agencies and the private sector organisations are faced with a number of challenges in their roles in supporting the global effort of a coordinated approach in response to aids and effective Aid management.

In the West and Central African region as in other parts of the Africa, there are identified capacity gaps in the management of programs in response to aids that need to be addressed.

Capacity gaps of Country partners and Technical Assistance (TA) Managers

Some of the capacity gaps so far identified with country Partner organisations and TA managers managing National aids responses are :
• Limited capacity within Governments and Country partners Organisations including civil society organisations to implement programmes in response to aids.
• Lack of the capacity of these organisations to identify TA needs and to manage high quality and timely short term technical assistance to support national regional programmes in response to aids.
• Limited capacity and skills of National AIDS Commissions (NACs) to manage the complex operating environment with increased funding from various donors for effective national aids response.
• Limited capacity for mainstreaming HIV response at national and sector levels in many countries.
• Lack of TA Plan by Country partner Organisations
• Many organisations are slow in requesting for TA.
• Poor management of Short Term Technical assistance.

Capacity gaps of Consultants

• Limited number of senior and mid-levels consultants within the region
• Limited knowledge and skills required to provide high quality TA to country partner organisations.

The Technical Support Facilities for West and Cental Africa is therefore responding to the above challenges through a Capacity Development Program for both TA managers of country programs and consultants.