Closing a chapter on one of CPHA’s major international initiatives
On June 30, 2008 the 18-year relationship between the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA), the Southern African AIDS Trust (SAT) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) came to an end. “CPHA has successfully worked itself out of a job,” remarked Debra Lynkowski, CPHA’s CEO. “This is an important milestone for Canadian overseas development assistance. From very early on, we wanted Africans to lead and direct this program… finding African solutions for African communities.”
The Southern African AIDS Training (SAT) Programme was launched in 1990 to enhance the capacity of community organizations in southern Africa to design and deliver effective HIV prevention and AIDS care, support and treatment activities. From 1990 to 2003, the SAT Programme existed as a regional initiative managed and implemented by CPHA through a project support office located in Harare (Zimbabwe), with satellite offices in several countries in the southern Africa region. Shortly after its inception, the late Renée Sabatier, the Programme’s founding Director, had a vision to evolve the SAT Programme into a stand-alone NGO to support communities throughout the southern African region.
In late 2003, following almost two years of preparatory work and effort, the Southern African AIDS Trust was established and formally registered in Zimbabwe (in 2005, SAT’s Regional Office was relocated to South Africa). Although CPHA continued to be contractually responsible to CIDA for the successful completion of the initiative until June 2008, SAT became fully responsible for the implementation and management of CIDA-funded activities in the field. The Association’s role shifted to providing technical support and advice to help strengthen SAT’s organizational and programmatic capacity.
Over the years, this initiative has provided financial and technical support to more than 270 national and regional partners. The initiative has impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS in southern Africa. Through a strong and vibrant partnership between Canada and Africa, SAT has successfully helped African organizations build their capacity to respond effectively to HIV and AIDS in their communities.
SAT has become a strong regional autonomous organization. It continues to enhance its support to HIV and AIDS community competence. SAT has succeeded in broadening its funding base from a single donor to multiple donors. SAT is currently negotiating with other potential donors, including CIDA, for future direct funding support.
“This transformation and the transfer of ownership of this initiative from the “northern partner” (CPHA) to the “southern partner” (SAT) is the ultimate achievement for international development and public health,” commented Anita Sandström, SAT’s Executive Director.
Canada and CPHA can be proud of the success of this international initiative and the contribution it has made to improve the conditions of life for so many people in southern Africa.
