HOW DOES THE PROGRAM IMPACT ON THE HIV AND AIDS PANDEMIC NACSO NAMIBIA ASSOCIATION FOR CBNRM SUPPORT ORGANIZATION HOW DOES THE PROGRAM IMPACT ON THE HIV AND AIDS PANDEMIC

OUR FUNCTIONS AND OUTREACH NACSO supports 14 NGOs in Namibia addressing a CBNRM program through the conservancy concept. The program empowers communities to utilize and manage their natural resources in a sustainable fashion and secure their own livelihoods. Economic empowerment of communities. Addresses poverty alleviation. Implemented in twelve of the 13 political regions Touches the lives of more than 250 000 Namibians out of the 1.9 million population in fifty (50) registered conservancies in the country. It reaches out to the most rural communities where so many other programs can not reach.

OUR SITUATION WITH REGARD TO HIV AND AIDS FINDINGS OF THE LAST SENTINEL SURVEY REPORT DONE IN NAMIBIA 2006 ANC sentinel surveillance reported a 19% HIV prevalence rate in Namibia. The prevalence ratios in rural and urban areas are 20.0% and 19.8% respectively

IMPACTS OF HIV AND AIDS ON THE CBNRM PROGRAM: People are becoming ill and dying on NGO and conservancy level. Absenteeism from NGO activities and conservancy matters. Loss of manpower and institutional capacity on NGO and conservancy level. Loss of skills and expertise – less skilled man power Loss of indigenous knowledge. Loss of leadership. Loss of NGO and conservancy income Re - allocation of funds to support the infected and affected. High staff turn over. Extra work load on others. Institutional goals and objectives will not be reached. Institutional break down

IMPACTS ON OUR NATURAL RESOUCES: Reduction in household labour. The transfer of land to the generation to come is disrupted. Natural Resources will either be exploited or under utilized. Pouching will take place, game will be wiped out No human resource to take care of or utilize the natural resources. Desertification. Reduction in enterprises.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN: The CBNRM Program impacts on the HIV and AIDS pandemic because: Our CBNRM Workers are migrant workers The program is bringing development to the people. It is changing the social and economic environment of the people. It creates exchange opportunities. It impacts on the cultures- more westernized cultures due to the change in social environment. It actively contributes to the spread of HIV and AIDS.

MIGRANT WORKERS CBNRM WORKERS ARE MIGRANT WORKERS. 2. AWAY FROM HOME VERY OFTEN FOR LONG PERIODS. 3. COULD BECOME VERY LONELY. 4. INDULDGE IN ALCOHOL USE MISUSE. 5. MULTIPLE RELATIONSHIPS. 6. UNPROTECTED SEX. BRING HIV BACK HOME, BUT ALSO SPREAD THE VIRUS WITHIN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT.

CHANGING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF THE RURAL COMMUNITIES CONSERVANCIES ARE INCOME GENERATING ENTITIES. JOB OPPORTUNITIES. INCOME THROUGH JOBS AND BENEFIT DISTRIBUTIONS. CREATION OF INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES – SHIBEENS. ACCESS TO ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS UNPROTECTED SEX – CCC – CELL PHONES, CARS, SEX.

CHANGING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF THE RURAL COMMUNITIES A PEACEFUL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT ARE NOW BEING CHANGED TO A MORE WESTERNIZED ENVIRONMENT. PEOPLE CREATING MORE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES WHICH PROVIDES ACCESS TO: TRANSPORT CELL PHONES CLUBS OR SHIBEENS – FREE ALCOHOL AVAILABILITY – SOCAIL GATHERING PLACES INCREASES. A CONSUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS IF OUR PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE.

CREATING EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES EXCHANGE VISITS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE REGIONAL EXPOSURE CONSERVANCY ACTIVITIES TRAININGS COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AN EXCELLENT CONDUIT FOR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. DEVELOPMENT ON ITSELF CREATES EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS

THIS ALL CONTRIBUTES TOWARDS THE SPREAD OF HIV AND AIDS IMPACTS ON CULTURE: CULTURE CHANGES AS THE ENVIRONMENT CHANGES: A MORE WESTERNIZED CUTURE IS ADOPTED DUE TO THE CHANGE IN THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT: DRESS CODE. ALCOHOL USE. TRANSPORT AVAILABILITY – PEOPLE ACCESS TO VEHICLES, EASY TO REACH TOWNS. TRADITIONAL FAMILY GATHERINGS CHANGES TO MODERN PARTIES WITH FRIENDS. THIS ALL CONTRIBUTES TOWARDS THE SPREAD OF HIV AND AIDS

Our Commitment to HIV and AIDS HOW DO WE RESPOND Building the capacity of the NGOs to identify and understand these impacts . Putting work place policies in place and implement these policies including risk mitigation ( This needs management support). Putting work place programs in place with a priority focus on awareness raising and preventative measures. Supporting the conservancies to identify and understand the impacts the program has on the pandemic and further spread of HIV and AIDS. - Putting conservancy HIV and AIDS policies in place which would address the mitigation of exposure risks and implement these policies. Support conservancies to roll out a comprehensive awareness raising program to reach conservancy members and community members and focus on prevention. MAINSTREAM HIV AND AIDS INTO OUR CBNRM PROGRAM. Our Commitment to HIV and AIDS OUR POLICY

Thank you! OUR MOTO: SAVE OUR PEOPLE! SAVE OUR RESOURCES! SAVE OUR NATION! Thank you!