NCA’s Strategic Partnership Programme in Health and HIV and AIDS in Malawi

Background

NCA started its work in Malawi in mid-2002 upon invitation by the Norwegian Embassy. Its focus was to collaborate with Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) in areas like HIV and AIDS, Health and Human Rights. NCA Norway has had a Frame Agreement with NORAD for a number of years and the Norwegian Government funded project portfolio in Malawi has been funded under this agreement. The Norwegian Embassy has taken over the portfolio and a strategic partnership (SP) was established between the Embassy and NCA in May 2005. This was the first in its kind, and covers Health (including water and sanitation), HIV and AIDS and Gender Based Violence. This initial agreement lasted for one year only, but was extended for another year in May 2006. The budget under the Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Embassy is NOK 15.6 million in 2006, or about 31% of total NCA budget. This review covers only the Strategic Partnership Agreement.

Purpose/objective

The Purpose of the Review was:
To assess the relevance of the ongoing NCA projects in regards to the priority areas of Norway in Malawi. It is intended to inform the Norwegian Embassy if this support complements the Embassy's effort in its support to the government of Malawi in the specific areas of intervention. To examine NCA-Malawi's cooperation with the Embassy. The review will examine NCA's efficiency, its capacity to deliver a quality product. To assess NCA's ability to coordinate activities with its different partners in a way that brings about results.

Methodology

This Review was carried out as a qualitative review in nature using a semi structured interview form/questionnaire as a starting point both for the interviews with key stakeholders and for document review. This was based on the Terms of Reference focusing on review of the ongoing projects as defined under the strategic partnership, and the organisational set up of NCA and relevant stakeholders. Prior to the review the Team made a list of specifications which were agreed to by the Embassy.

Key findings

The ongoing projects including NCA's activities are generally seen as relevant to the priority areas of Norway and the Norwegian Embassy in Health, HIV/AIDS and Gender-based violence. The working relations between the Embassy and NCA are regarded as good. NCA is recommended as a strategic partner to the Embassy. The coordination of faith-based partners is clearly a major achievement of NCA. The weaknesses are short term contracts, to many partners and insufficient collaboration with other donors and INGO's.

Recommendations

NCA needs to define its own role and contribution and activities we carries out ourselves as: capacity and organisational building, coordination, quality assurance, technical support, monitoring and evaluation advocacy etc. Strengthen internal organisation and capacity among staff in organisation development and monitoring and evaluation. Develop indicators to measure success of its own projects activities. Strengthen cooperation with other NGOs and INGO's

Comments from the organisation

NCA Malawi has already made proposals and yearly plans for 2007 identifying own inputs and professional support to partners. Capacity building with staff is continuing including work on indicators and partners evaluation.