Zanzibar NGO Cluster for HIV/AIDS Prevention (ZANGOC)

The Zanzibar NGO Cluster on HIV/AIDS is a Non governmental organization established in 1996 that strives to build collective efforts in combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic. ZANGOC draws her members from the two Islands of Pemba and Unguja.

Vision
ZANGOC vision is of strong, committed and dynamic member organisations that effectively fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Zanzibar.

Mission
ZANGOC mission is to strengthen member organisations (NGOs, CBOs and FBOs) through: " Capacity building " Coordinating their activities " Enhancing sharing of information, experience and resources In pursuing her mission, ZANGOC will network and collaborate with other like-minded organizations. ZANGOC will also lobby and advocate for policy change on HIV/AIDS and its related issues.


Activities

1. Coordinate member organizations activities, which relate to the fighting against HIV/AIDS.
- Capacity building to member organizations (leadership, administration, counseling, peer education, financial management, writing proposals, M&E, Income generating)

2. Provide advisory and lobbying services for the community on the source, spread and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

3. Counseling and VCT services.

4. Collective
- Mass events (Initiate mass campaign for fighting against HIV/AIDS)
- Peer education (drama, video shows, debates, poems etc)
- Distribution of IEC materials
- Fundraising for implementing member organizations’ activities

5. Advocacy activities e.g. meeting with members of HR and SHAHAS.

6. Establishment of Information center

7. Fund raising for care and support to HIV/AIDS affected and infected

8. Organize and support youth friendly activities.

Achievements

1. Known nationally and internationally as an institution dealing with HIV/AIDS in the country.
2. Lobbying on the fight against HIV/AIDS through member organizations.
3. Increased number of member organizations thus increased strength in fighting against HIV/AIDS (6 in 1996 to 28 members in 2004).
4. ZANGOC sustainability (that it has been able to exist all this while).
5. Increased number of beneficiaries through member NGOs
6. Enhance collaboration and coordination between ZANGOC and the government and between ZANGOC and its member NGOs
7. Develop and follow up a proper financial management mechanism.
8. Has managed to support NGOs to develop to a big stage (some are independent now).
9. Increased number of activities e.g. VCT - (having one in 1999 to 3 centers 2004).
10. More people are coming for testing.
11. All NGO members received at least one capacity building training.
12. Five youth friendly facilitation center.
13. Four trained counselors and technician by AMREF

Lessons learned

1. HIV/AIDS is an ongoing problem. There is still a need of putting much more efforts in fighting against HIV/AIDS: joint action.
2. Duplication of activities between ZANGOC and her members.
3. There is improved performance as experience is gained. 4. The need of written regulations/policies on running the day-to-day activities.
5. More people demand services.
6. VCT - need to improve confidentiality and privacy.
7. Networking will strengthen, by bringing together NGO members we avoid duplications.
8. Mass events can be more successful through better planning and involvement.
9. Without proper involvement of stakeholders it is difficult to achieve the organizational goals.
10. Members have potential contributions in planning and execution of activities and when well mobilized can be committed and play various roles to achieve the goal.
11. Transparency is very important in mobilizing collective efforts and accountability.
12. Teamwork spirit and commitment bring about success.

Challenges

1. Inadequate resources available (Money, working facilities, staff etc.)
2. Absence of long time strategic planning in implementing ZANGOC activities.
3. Insufficient knowledge of member organizations in coordinating, planning and preparing project proposals.
4. Trained NGOs without making a follow-up.
5. Need to do monitoring of activities to know outputs/results.
6. Coordination of NGO members 28 is challenging.
7. Advocacy needs to be improved to religious leaders, community leaders and at national level (stigma – ZANGOC needs to work in order to get rid of stigma).
8. We need to stay focused for sustainability (be less donor driven).
9. Delay of funds disbursement.
10. Urban bias – we need to sensitize rural NGOs to also play a role in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
11. Not having a clear, collective vision, mission and strategic directions through which ZANGOC and the member NGOs will know
- What to do
- How to do
- When to do
12. How can leaders (founders) accept and support the changes (evolution) of ZANGOC to follow and accommodate relative changes.
13. Some of the developed NGOs show no interest in seeking mutual support and collaboration with ZANGOC/ other member NGOs.
14. Production of Zanzibar – oriented IEC materials.
15. Increased number of new HIV/AIDS cases despite our existence.
16. Few NGO members implement activities as expected.
17. Sustainability of activities is doubtful.


Primary stakeholders:

• NGOs, CBOs and FBOs dealing with HIV/AIDS in Zanzibar.

ZANGOC secondary stakeholders:

1. ZAC
2. International NGOs
3. Local Government
4. Religious institutions
5. Political organizations

ZANGOC key stakeholders:

1. Staff
2. Board of Trustees
3. Donors: ZAC, ZACP, USAID, AFRICARE, Global Funds, ZAC, PACT
4. Executive committee
5. Steering Committee/General Assembly
6. District Aids Coordination Committee (DACCOMs)/Shehia Aids Coordination Committee (SHACCOMs)
7. Ministry of Good Governance

ZANGOC Target group is ZANGOC member organizations.

Contacts
P.O.Box 4738,
Zanzibar
Tel/Fax : + 255 24-2230195
E-mail : zangoc@zanlink.com