REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON HIV, AIDS and HOUSING 15 – 17 SEPTEMBER JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Resource Mobilization and Strengthening Partnership with AIDS Services Organizations (ASOs) ‘Planact’s experiences in the past years’ Presented by: Shumani Luruli

Planact is a non-profit organisation established in 1985, whose mission is to support and mobilise community processes that enhance good governance at the local level to improve people’s habitable environment in ways that alleviate poverty.  OUR PROGRAMMES INCLUDE:-  Integrated Human Settlements ◦ Informal Settlement Upgrading ◦ Inclusive Inner City ◦ Strengthened Social Movements  Participatory Governance ◦ Participatory Budget, Performance and Accountability ◦ Active Citizenship  Community Development ◦ Community based Organizational Development ◦ Community Livelihoods Support

 Our work is focused on strengthening community participation in informal settlement upgrading,(Tenure road map)  Supporting participatory planning (IDP and CBP) and budgeting process  And supporting Innovative public participation strategies in communities (e.g. OE/Noordgesig-CDC model, Cosmo City, Spring Valley, Leandra )  Supporting communities in developing community based response to HIV/AIDS and other related issues(solplaatjie, Ivory park, Vosloorus and Spring Valley)

 We also assist with Sustainable Livelihoods Assessment(SLA) to assist communities to develop livelihoods strategies  Training for ward committees in relation to roles& responsibilities and sector planning  LED assessment(using PACA methodology- participatory appraisal of competitive advantage) and strategic support for planning.

 Our intervention include mobilizing community members to own the process through a series of meetings and education  Capacity development on specific issues that will help with community interventions and planning e.g. IDP (  Lobby municipalities for information e.g. for land ownership (supported by SERI and Webber Wenzel)  Lobby municipalities for critical basic services like with SP(water and sanitation)

 Planact will always partner with o Community structures i.e. cbo’s, political parties, social movements, civil society organizations, business forums etc. o Municipalities, councillors, ward committee members and relevant officials (mostly in the planning department and the speakers office) o Pro bono lawyers and legal institutions o Other relevant institutions that will advance and strengthen some of the strategic interventions e.g.. Soul City, HIVSA(TRAINING MATERIALS AND TRAINING SUPPORT GROUPS)

 Other strategic partners also include: o International funding institutions(for direct funding) o Government institutions e.g.. NDA supporting HIV/AIDS and food security initiative, NLTDF(Lottery) supporting community care centre in spring valley o Good governance learning network (GGLN) which allows for learning and support for similar organizations o Other local and international Institutions and organizations that allows for cross learning too

 Spring Valley in emalahleni municipality where the focus is on participation strategies in Informal settlement upgrading.  The sustainable livelihoods assessment helped us and the community to understand the need to address community basic needs even during the struggle for tenure security.  Health issues because of living conditions and lack of basic services, poverty due to unemployment and substance abuse  Community mapping and planning also revealed some social cohesion issues within the community  The intervention also started to build the morale of the leadership and were open to engage with municipality after years of hostilities

 Partnership with Thembalethu CCC (ASO) assist the intervention to be relevant to PLHIV  Lottery funding assisted the centre to have much needed equipment's and training for organizational development  In the partnership both organizations incurred cost for admin, equipment's, training for direct and indirect impact.  challenge is the ever changing environment i.e. focus by institutions, or turn around time to offer support.  Partnerships that depend on funding are challenging as sustainability is a problem but once the ASO is strengthened and volunteers agree to diversify they stand a chance to sustain their work, (programme mix to appeal to different instruments of support). Also be part of big forums at regional levels helps  With the help of urban landmark we developed Tenure Security Continuum, see slide below

Steps towards greater administrative recognition Resist eviction s Enhance tenure through communit y actions Deal with the land ownership question Lobby for provision of basic services and local recognition Lobby for political support Tenure Security Continuum Less securityMore security More Informal Illegal More Formal Legal THE APPROACH Incrementally securing tenure and improving lives The incremental tenure continuum concept

the springWater trucks Sinking borehole Tanks and pipes

Training care workers Training OD training

Cleaning campaignEnumeration and mapping Mapping exerciseMobilizing support

 The benefits of the partnership is felt far beyond PLHIV, it gave an opportunity for the rest of the community and the leadership to engage, it helped the community to advocate for better service in the IDP forums with the understanding of the vulnerability others face.  Community issues are tackled at a community level not just by isolated structures, the Spring valley Development committee (SDC) now have periodic community consultations and meeting for feedback to keep the community informed.  We are continuing with training of social facilitators and trainers in the community to help with monitoring and evaluation

END THANK YOU