Kevin Kelly & Karen Birdsall CADRE Rhodes University South Africa Indicators for assessing the impact of new funding modalities on civil society responses to HIV/AIDS Perspectives on Impact Evaluation Cairo, 29-31 March 2009
Transcript
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Kevin Kelly & Karen Birdsall CADRE Rhodes University South
Africa Indicators for assessing the impact of new funding
modalities on civil society responses to HIV/AIDS Perspectives on
Impact Evaluation Cairo, 29-31 March 2009
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Background The Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (2005)
consolidated a developing trend towards alignment of development
aid with government programmes of action. Concepts of alignment and
harmonisation were pivotal. Basket funds, SWAPs, budget support
mechanisms increasingly replaced bilateral programmes of support.
(With notable exception of USG) In AIDS field this was paralleled
by the Three Ones (2004), which similarly committed to increased
alignment with national HIV/AIDS strategies and funding mechanisms
and donor harmonisation.
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Our questions How have new funding modalities affected the
development and effectiveness of CSOs? What has increase of overall
funding for AIDS responses meant for CSOs? What should be expected
in terms of development assistance to civil society? What
indicators would be used to understand the evolution of trends
development?
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Sources A range of studies conducted over the past 4 years
Publications www.cadre.org.za under local level
responseswww.cadre.org.za - Community AIDS needs in South Africa
(USAID) - System effects of increased AIDS funding (GFATM) - Civil
society funding in six southern African countries - Lesotho,
Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia (OSISA)
- Civil society funding environment in Tanzania (Ford Foundation
East Africa) - Work in support of AIDS responses in Zimbabwe -
Numerous reviews, situation analyses, and programme evaluations
conducted over ten years - www.cadre.org.za
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Growth in number of CSOs Morogoro Municipal* * Data supplied
by: Enedy Mwanakatwe, Morogoro
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Growth of civil society (general) in Tanzania 17 registered
CSOs in 1978 1990/1 200 1994 - 813 Growth fuelled by donor funding
strategies which increasingly channeled aid funds through
international and locally based CSOs, considered to be more
efficient and less corrupt, and to operate closer to the poor than
government bureaucracies NGOs took up these opportunities Ranks
swelled to 4,000 by 2005 Estimated 7,000-8,000 CSOs
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Year in which CSOs started AIDS activities
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Civil society activities Only about 30% are exclusively
involved in AIDS activities Proportion of time spent on
AIDS-related programmes has increased over time Some evidence of
activity substitution with change of previous mandates because AIDS
funding is more readily available
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Changes in average annual spending by CSOs 2005 - official
sub-granting agencies accounted for only 11% of the total funds
received They are, however, the most accessed source of
support
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Funding coverage Most medium and small CSOs are functioning
sub-optimally and do not have sufficient consistent support to be
able to realistically pursue long term plans. Almost half had less
than 25% of their projected budgets funded for the following year.
Funding does not meet the needs of growing organisations. %
funded
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Funding mechanisms for civil society Government local level
funding mechanisms have relatively good reach, but perceived as
inefficient and mostly small scale both in terms of funding limits.
Such mechanisms largely rely on INGOs for fund management. Some
short-term funding mechanism for mid-sized CSOs in place but
limited. Large scale use of CSOs for delivering specific project
outputs on part of Global Fund beneficiaries and USG, but outputs
highly defined and prescriptive. Less prescriptive funding options
through smaller, civil society sub- granting foundations and
networks, favourably received, but scale not significant. Access to
bilateral funders limited and on the wane. But many small scale
funders (churches, service clubs, small foundations) in evidence.
Their scale is largely undocumented. Many organisations rely on
such funding.
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Effects of current funding environment - 1 Many long-standing,
innovative and efficient organisations are facing new funding
crises because of the steady retreat of direct and bilateral
assistance. CSOs are increasingly engaged as service providers with
activities closely prescribed. This compromises diversity,
innovation and rootedness. Many organisations barely develop apart
from their ability to render particular services. Very few CSOs
show indications of moving to any kind of sustainability.
Opportunism and competition has negative effects on conduct towards
achieving group goals. Transaction costs of participation in
national CSO engagement programmes are high. More time spent in
funding activities and more sources of funding. Huge costs incurred
by members of CSOs. The discretionary component of funding support
to CSOs is limited, and there is little appreciation in funding
discourses of the value of supporting organisations medium or
long-term plans.
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Effects of funding environment - 2 Civil society is being
shaped by the funding environment. Independence and advocacy,
traditional hallmarks of civil society, appear to be in
short-supply. Divisiveness created by competitive funding
mechanisms. High attrition rates of CSOs. Many never become viable
and cease to exist. Hand to mouth funding not conducive to
strengthening of organisations.
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Summary The new funding approaches may limit the contribution
of national civil society organisations and ultimately the unique
contribution that they make to national HIV/AIDS responses. There
is a need for donors and national civil society organisations to
take note of the risks to civil society responses in the current
funding environment, and to re-engage in supporting the development
of strong national NGOs and umbrella bodies. We cannot think of
development effectiveness without referring specifically to civil
society. Development success greatly relies on civil society. There
is a need for donors and national civil society organisations to
take note of the risks to civil society responses in the current
funding environment, and to re-engage in supporting the development
of strong national NGOs and umbrella bodies.
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Conclusions Large scale programmes use CSOs to get services
closer to the ground, but do not make any real commitments to, and
show little appreciation in funding terms, for the value of
strengthening these community AIDS response assets. There is very
little understanding of the size and characteristics of the civil
society sector. No vision or map for how support for CS should
develop and where it is headed. There is little evidence of any
attempts to conceptualise models of how CSO responses may survive
in the long term.
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Recommendations CSOs need to develop a more united front for
engagement with donors, development partners and government.
Donors, funds and development partners should formalise donor and
civil society dialogue structures and harmonise mechanisms for
civil society engagement and support. Graded approach to funding
risk is required. Recognise CSOs as assets rather than resources to
be used, and support their growth and security. CSOs must
participate in the work of thematic and sector-wide associations
and in doing so represent concerns and needs of the civil society
sector.
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Indicators useful for understanding impact of new funding
modalities on strengthening and effectiveness of CSO contributions
Existence of an agreed set of principles to guide to guide support
of development partners and CSO sector. Endorsement of national
funding architecture by civil society organisations. Existence of
longer term funding mechanisms for NGOs working at larger scale.
Credible representation of CSO-identified representatives in
partnership forums, thematic and sector-wide partnerships.
Consolidation of splintered national CSO umbrella organisations in
key areas.
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Acknowledgements The financial support of the Open Society
Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) is gratefully acknowledged
The primary research reported was funded by OSISA and the Ford
Foundation East Africa Office.