Opportunities for Civil Society
Participation in National Health
policy Processes and Monitoring
of ODA flows
The Case of Zambia
Monica Mutesa
Zambian CSOs involvement in Health
Policy processes
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1. NHSP (National Health Strategic Plan)
NASF (National Aids Strategic Framework)
SNDP (Sixth National Development Plan)
Various Sector Policy Documents that
Interface with health
• PEPFAR Framework
CSO involvement in M &E
• Health Systems Monitoring (the JARs and
various meetings held with MOH).
• Aid Process Monitoring
(Budget/drug/Resource tracking)
• Implementation Monitoring
• Coverage Monitoring
General Involvement
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JTT (Joint Technical Team)
TWG (Technical Working Groups)
SAG (Sector Advisory Groups)
MDG progress meetings
The Role of Oxfam and Other INGOs
• Oxfam supports the CSHF, through the Civil Society
Health Policy Action Fund (CSHPAF)
• Oxfam supports local NGOs in campaigns, advocacy etc
e.g. FAIR PLAY for Africa
• In general the role of INGOs is seen as facilitating the
role of the local NGOs to be the people’s voice
• Oxfam works through partnerships, empowering local
NGOs to ensure sustainability of the involvement of
local NGOs in the various processes
• However: Oxfam participates in the SAG, JTT and
various TWG and coordinates CSO’s contributions
CSOs in a Difficult Situation
The fraud cases in the MOH and the delay in concluding
the Governance Action Plan (GAP) have affected
movement on the signing of the IHP+ MOU and also
affected the gains that were made in the health
sector
Successes Challenges and Obstacles
Successes:
• The realisation by CSO for the need to speak
with one voice
• The Input into the various Policy processes
e.g. the Livingstone NHSP meeting
• The engagement with GFTAM over the fraud
cases
• The inclusion of an Aids chapter in the SNDP
and the input of PLWHA into the NASF
Challenges
1.
The ‘Legal/Formal’ status of CSOs is not clear
> CSO ‘voice’ can or cannot be taken into account
depending on the position of both the CPs and
Government
2. Capacity of Local NGOs to engage meaningfully in
these spaces is limited
Legal Situation:
• The NGO Act: Generally perceived as a means for
Government to intimidate NGOs especially those
that deal with governance issues.
• a)Registration Fee
b)Constitution of the Registration Board,
• Government is currently working to come up with
an implementation framework
• Questions on accountability and legitimacy of
CSOs are valid
Role of CSOs in tracking ODA funds
• The Aid process monitoring (Budget tracking etc)
• Global Fund CCM should have been a good platform,
However:
– Members have been there for a long time
– Membership should be on a rotating basis?
• The CSOs played an important role
– Speaking on behalf of the people by highlighting the impact of total
withdrawal of funds.
– Committing to ensure that there is accountability from the various
recipients.
Vielen Dank!!