Benin: West Africa: Annual Report (Appeal 01.02/2001)

This Annual Report is intended for reporting on the Federation's Annual Appeals only.
Appeal Target: CHF 5, 630,297 (USD 3,783,556 or EUR 3,407,297)

Operational Developments

In 2001, West Africa continued to undergo many socio-economic and political problems which spilled over into ethnic conflict based on mainly sectarian lines. Nigeria was a case in point, since the imposition of Sharia law there continued to create tension between Christians and Muslims. Street riots were reported in the city of Maiduguri and other places.

The region remained susceptible to natural disasters and subsequent food shortages. The borders of Mauritania and Senegal and those of Mali and Guinea were prone to natural disasters while northern Mauritania suffered from drought.

West Africa continued to be seriously affected by a number of diseases, of which the most serious were diarrhoeal diseases in children under five, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. In sub-Saharan Africa 28.1 million people were estimated to have the HIV/AIDS virus. Virtually all the West African nations have made substantial efforts to fight the disease.

In January, an outbreak of meningitis spread quickly through the West and Central African countries. In Burkina Faso the disease claimed 901 lives out of 5,889 documented cases; in Niger, 1,374 cases were documented and 108 people died. In Benin, 1,147 cases were documented and 265 deaths recorded. A total of 7.5 million doses of vaccine were needed, and as part of an international response to this outbreak, the Federation gave financial and technical support to the Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Niger, Chad, Central Africa and Burkina Faso Red Cross Societies. The Federation's Appeal included an education and information campaign aimed at prevention and early detection of the disease. Almost seven million doses of vaccine - five million in Burkina Faso, 600,000 in Benin, and 1.2 million in Niger were administered. The western part of Côte d'Ivoire was hit by a yellow fever epidemic with 143 suspected cases and 16 deaths reported. The Ministry of Health together with Côte d'Ivoire Red Cross, and with financial support from the Federation, were able to successfully carry out a vaccination campaign targeting 2,858,826 persons during the last quarter of 2001. They also used this opportunity to raise awareness of cholera, which had claimed 175 lives countrywide. The campaign was conducted in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF and MSF, among others. Northern Nigeria also suffered from a cholera outbreak with 2,050 cases and 80 deaths in Kano metropolis and 120 cases in Jigawa, (WHO report).

There were some positive developments in 2001. In Sierra Leone, the joint commission on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), achieved some success: by the end of December over 46,000 former fighters were disarmed and given reintegration packages. Except for ongoing tension along Sierra Leone's border with Liberia and Guinea the overall situation in the country was stable. The UNHCR/IOM repatriation process quickened in pace with 500 returnees weekly since Sierra Leoneans were eager to return and register for the May 2002 elections. Over 50,000 refugees from Guinea were repatriated during the year. Côte d' Noire was peaceful after the President officially closed the three-month national reconciliation forum. He approved 14 recommendations submitted to him by the forum's steering committee on various issues one of which concerned the issuance of a certificate of nationality to the main opposition leader.

Disaster Response

Objective I: To assist national societies to develop external relations in the field of population movement thus allowing them to enhance their contribution to the population movement forum and to market their skills more widely.

The Population Movement (PM) programme started in September 2000 with the arrival of the new regional population movement delegate. The presidents of the 16 national societies covered by the delegation were informed of the new PM programme during their meeting in Abidjan. The first conference of the West Africa National Societies, held on 13 to 14 December in Abidjan was attended by participants from 11 national societies, during which the general direction of the PM programme and the plan of action was approved. A platform for Red Cross cooperation on migration in West Africa was established. It was agreed that each national society would include PM in their activities and that national society representatives would meet twice a year to exchange experiences.

During the second half of last year, PM programme focussed on youth and HIV/AIDS, since an assessment revealed that many of the street children in Abidjan were actually migrants from Ghana, Togo, and Burkina Faso.

Disaster Preparedness

Objective 1: To assist West African Societies to implement appropriate food security decisions (Ouagadougou Declaration and West Africa Food Security recommendations) and operations in a timely and effective manner.

Two national societies (Mauritania & Senegal) attended the West African Regional Food Security Conference organized by the Interstate Committee for the Control of Drought in the Sahel (CILSS) in Dakar on 28 to 31 May 2001. The representatives presented the Red Cross approach to food security in West Africa and conclusions from the conference were used to prepare guidelines for food security in West Africa. The regional delegation and the national society also made recommendations for further action. The drought appeal for Mauritania, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad was prepared, and food distributions in Niger were supported under the DP programme.

The West African focal point for food security (Mauritanian Red Cross) and the CILSS consultant facilitated the preparation of seven national society food security plans (Mauritania, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Senegal, Gambia), thereby meeting the performance targets set for food security.

The new regional DP delegate and an assistant went to Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and Senegal to follow up on plans made for food security. This helped to determine the kind of activities to be organized for and with the communities according to their needs and capacities.

Proposals and suggestions were collected from national societies and other organizations to define criteria for the selection of three national societies to start food security activities.

Objective 2: To support national societies to complete and/or initiate Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) activities in order to enable them to define programmes aimed at meeting identified needs of the vulnerable.

With assistance from resource persons from two NSs, the DP delegate assisted 10 national societies in both training and implementation of either their pilot or nationwide VCAs.

During 2001, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau and Senegal completed their pilot VCAs and activities were implemented, the DP program has continued to promote and encourage the use of VCA activities

Objective 3: To support national societies to improve their disaster management capacities, taking into account the need for gender equity, to respond to man-made and natural disasters such as foods, fire, malnutrition, famine, population movements and other disasters.

The Federation, ICRC, and Save the Children agreed on joint areas of disaster management training in Lome and Accra in 2001. Apart from training they also assisted the national societies in implementing their contingency plans through financial and/or technical support.

The regional delegation and ICRC gave technical and financial support to the Gambian Red Cross for contingency planning during the presidential elections. Similar support was given to the Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and Togo Red Cross Societies to organize training in Conflict Preparedness and Response (CPR)

This project has also identified a focal point for the creation of the future Regional Response Team (RRT) and will establish the TOR in the near future.

All the implemented activities are jointly planned and agreed with ICRC.

Humanitarian Values

Objective l, 2, 3, 4 and 5: To prioritize support for information to national societies in the region according to capacity and requirements. To support the formulation of national society Information Plans. To support excellence among national society information personnel and provide technical equipment. To encourage knowledge sharing within national societies. To increase visibility of the work of the national societies.

The capacities and needs of the national societies in the region were assessed by the Information Department. A lack of funding meant that regional information seminars and workshops were not held as planned. Instead, the delegate met with the presidents of all 16 national societies in Abidjan to outline the plans and priorities for information development.

The department provided direct technical support in information skills to the Côte d' Noire Red Cross in its reports to the international press during its yellow fever campaign. The regional delegation's Information/Reporting Departments covered the yellow fever campaign, the response to floods by the Nigeria, Guinea and Mali Red Cross operations, as well as the UN World Conference against Racism, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in Durban, South Africa from 31 August to 8 September, all of which can be found on the Federation's web site.

Since it was difficult to focus on all 16 national societies, the information delegate and the new information officer finalized a more practical strategy for technical assistance. This strategy involved establishing a "buddy" system between Anglophone, Francophone and lusophone national societies whereby the more developed national societies provided technical support to other less developed ones. Formal contacts were established with the information officers of Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Cape Verde, Benin, Mali and Liberia Red Cross Societies, and all showed great interest in the new strategy.

Côte d'Ivoire, Togo and Ghana information officers accompanied delegates on various field trips to Daloa (in Côte d'Ivoire), Mfantisim, Cape Coast and Accra (in Ghana) and Lome (Togo), Bong County (in Liberia), Kissidougou (in Guinea Conakry). Activities organized by West Africa National Societies for World AIDS Day on 1st December, 2001 were documented and published on the Federation's web site. Both Reuters and Associated Press news agencies wrote articles on Red Cross response to AIDS in West Africa. Impressed with the Côte d'Ivoire Red Cross programme for street children, Reuters TV spent two days in December filming activities for a documentary on street children and AIDS. Stories on the anti-measles campaign in Togo and Ghana were also posted on the Federation's web site.

Health and Care

Objective I: To continue support for national societies to facilitate environmental hygiene and reproductive health information and services.

A seminar to further the development of mothers' clubs was held in February in Chad. The meeting was attended by health coordinators and mothers' club activity officers from four national societies, Togo and Ghana from West Africa and two Central Africa countries. At the meeting, the focus was on family planning, Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and fund raising activities. Relevant cultural considerations and potential barriers to change were discussed.

Objective 2 To continue support for national society primary health services.

Support to West Africa national societies to enhance primary health activities within the ARCHI framework continued throughout 2001 and was also given in activities under other health and care objectives. The Togo Red Cross ARCHI project began with a two-month delay due to setting-up procedures and slow cash transfers. However, the project was implemented successfully in the selected regions - HIV/AIDS activities conducted by the Togolese Red Cross within the ARCHI project were subsequently merged with the principal

AIDS project and water sanitation activities were introduced to replace them. The community health project in the Ivory Coast was halted in late 2001 due to irregularities in financial reporting by the national society and an external audit was commissioned. Federation materials on Information, Education and Communication were sent to all sixteen national societies to help them implement the African Red Cross Red Crescent Health Initiative (ARCHI) 2010.

Objective 3: To continue technical support to the national societies for water and sanitation activities.

The regional delegation gave technical support to Benin and Senegal Red Cross to implement an environmental hygiene and wat/san project to prevent epidemics in Rufisque (Senegal) and Bohicon and Agbangnizoun (Benin). These areas lacked sufficient latrines. During the first phase of the project two sanitation committees were re-established, new ones created, seven IEC sessions were organized, and four focus group sessions were held for 7,000 schoolboys, teachers and leaders of parent/pupil associations.

Objective 4: To strengthen national societies' and the regional delegation's preparedness in response to epidemics

Polio

With technical and financial support from the Federation for the polio project, 220 trained volunteers participated in the National Immunization Days (NIDs) from 29 October to 2 November in Niger. They were involved in both social mobilization and the administration of polio vaccines. From January 2001, in collaboration with WHO, Rotary International and other partners, the Niger Red Cross carried out a door-to-door social mobilization campaign. In January 2000 a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop took place in Niamey where 220 volunteers (150 in Niamey, 50 in Maradi and 20 in Diffa) were trained in social mobilization at the community level. Thirty four community leaders and 21 town criers were mobilized. Below are the number of districts and families reached:

Measles

Although this was not an Appeal project, the American Red Cross gave financial support to four countries - Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo and Mali for a mass measles immunization campaign. Benin Red Cross conducted their work in 10 districts by focusing on 21 chief towns with the help of a local Red Cross committee. Burkina Faso in 53 districts.

National societies were equipped by the regional delegation and were provided with computer, camera, photocopying machine, bicycles, motorcycles, megaphones and IEC equipment such as posters, T-shirts, caps, and Red Cross stickers. Volunteers helped authorities organize national vaccination campaigns through door to door social mobilization. Continuous information and health education was given to the population. Red Cross management capacity in wide-scale operations was strengthened, as were human and material resources.. A total of 4, 532 327 children were vaccinated. Below are the list of countries and number of volunteers involved:

Yellow Fever

The Federation gave financial support of CHF 200,000 for vaccinations and CHF 50,000 to Côte d'Ivoire Red Cross to carry out a yellow fever sensitization campaign through door-to-door visits and group mobilization in market places. A social mobilization clean up campaign for vector control was carried out during a ten-day period. This support enabled the national society to mobilize 660 volunteers, print and distribute 10,000 leaflets, 330 posters, prepare 660 bibs, purchase 22 megaphones, 33 wheelbarrows, 33 rakes, 33 shovels, 660 boots and 330 gloves. During the vaccination campaign, volunteers with medical training checked vaccination cards and administered vaccines. Other partners involved included the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, Medecins Sans Frontiéres, Medecins du Monde, CDC, and the ICRC.

Meningitis

The Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso Red Cross Societies carried out awareness and social mobilization activities against meningitis to make people aware of the epidemic, the symptoms of the disease and what actions to take as a result. Volunteers also assisted health authorities in keeping track of suspected cases on meningitis encountered in the fields. Four members of the regional health surveillance team (RHST) visited Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso to evaluate the work accomplished there and a report was compiled to this effect.

Benin Red Cross produced an educational document, and organized and trained 600 volunteers. A total of 2,000 leaflets and 1,000 posters were printed and distributed. In addition, 2100 homes were visited and temporary training centres were established.

HIV/AIDS

Objective I: To continue technical assistance on HIV/AIDS to all national societies to increase their operational capacities in project preparation, resource mobilization and implementation.

Youth and HIV/AIDS prevention, recruitment of non-remunerated blood donors, and support for Persons Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) were identified as focus areas for national society activities. In the regional delegation's strategy for support to national society HIV/AIDS projects, countries were grouped into three phases, according to their capacities and start dates.

The delegation supported national societies in finalizing their project plans for funding. Two of the Phase I countries (Ghana and Togo) received funding and by December 2001 Togo had started implementing activities such as training of trainers and training of peer educators in HIV/AIDS sensitization.

Efforts were made during the year to strengthen partnerships at the regional and national levels, notably, with the African Development Bank (ADB), the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNAIDS. These have participated in the two regional health/HIV AIDS national society coordinators' meetings held in 2001. A draft memorandum of cooperation between UNAIDS and the Federation was drawn up concerning condom promotion and distribution, youth peer education and commercial sex workers.

Objective 2: To continue technical and logistical support to national societies to implement and expand peer education activities on HIV/AIDS.

The regional delegation established contact with an association of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Abidjan called Lumière Action and encouraged the national society to involve PLWHA in their training activities of peer educators, to advocate for membership of PLWHA associations in the PLWHA network in the region, as well as assist in the care and support for PLWHA and their families. The Federation gave financial support to two PLWHA members to go to Mauritania to identify PLWHA associations.

The regional delegation funded the activities of the Côte d'Ivoire Red Cross for World AIDS Day 2001 in a rural village, Daloa, in collaboration with Lumière Action. The overall objective was to sensitize the rural population on HIV/AIDS and STDs through house-to-house and public campaigns.

Objective 3: To continue to support national societies to increase safe blood transfusions.

Social mobilization campaigns led by the Côte d'Ivoire Red Cross served to increase blood donations. An increase in donations was noted in three areas of Côte d'Ivoire: Korhogo, Daloa, and Bouaka. A total of 60 volunteers and 30 Red Cross officers, all members of local branches, were trained in blood donation awareness and in increasing local branch capacity within their respective regions.

FIRST AID

Objective I: To support national societies in their implementation of first- aid programmes (volunteer networks, community capacity, preparedness and response capacity and services).

In May 2001, the regional delegation gave financial and technical support for a Training of Trainers workshop in Niger which focused on technical support in first aid. This workshop provided the opportunity to test the Niger national society's new first-aid manual. With the assistance of the Swedish RC, the Burkina Faso Red Cross organized a special training which involved 19 provincial committees. Twenty eight participants trained local volunteers involved in community activities in Kouritenga, Yatenga, Kadiogo Ouahigouya and Ziniare branches. This special first aid training included Hygiene and sanitation, breastfeeding, reproductive health, and house to house visits for prevention and disease surveillance, using ARCHI 2010 toolkits. Also in May, the Nigeria Red Cross organized first-aid training programmes in Ibadan and Jos with the aim of reviewing its current practices and to introduce a new approach to training based on ARCHI 2010 guidelines.

The regional delegation gave technical support to the Senegalese Red Cross to implement a contingency plan for the national elections, with 525 first aiders and 33 supervisors covering ten districts. All were managed by the regional Red Cross headquarters. In Ghana, four out of the ten regions in the country carried out a training programme for first-aid teams.

On 3 May, the Guinea Red Cross, with technical support from the Federation and financial support from ICRC, organized the training of four first-aid brigades in refugee and IDP camps. Thirty-five young volunteers from the Red Cross branch of Sáo Domingo in Cape Verde received first-aid training during a workshop held on 26-27 May. Côte d'Ivoire Red Cross organized a Training of Trainers workshop from 3-12 September to implement the ARCHI 2010 approach. ARCHI toolkits provided by the regional delegation were used during the workshop.

Organizational Development

Objective l: To strengthen human and institutional resources of NS giving attention to gender integration.

While developing the assistance strategy of the National Society, five executives of the Niger Red Cross learned about programme objectives and scheduling. A training module was developed to give women more responsibility in management.

The Senegalese Red Cross assisted the NS of Guinea-Bissau in the development of its human resources by training 30 executives of the local branches and 120 volunteers in First Aid and WatSan.

Fifteen executives of Burkina Faso Red Cross participated in a national workshop on Institutional Development held 14-18 May. The NS held an Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA) in July. At the EGA the revised Statutes were adopted and a new Board was elected providing much needed re-motivation to meet the considerable challenges ahead.

The Secretary General of the Ghana Red Cross took part in a Basic Training Course (BTC) held in the Netherlands from 21-28 May, 2001. To date, 12 executives from the 16 National Societies have gone on mission with the Federation and ICRC in Africa and Europe.

The Ghana Red Cross Society and the Gambia Red Cross Society also held their General Assemblies during November, resulting in changes in Governance in both cases.

A follow-up assessment on SRC capacity building program in Guinea Bissau was conducted by a regional resource person. An evaluation committee was convened in Abidjan to discuss the results of the assessment. where a decision was taken to request further details on program, timelines, and expenditures to date with the intention of possible adjustment of objectives based on outcome of additional information.

Establishing regional data base for resource persons was been put on hold pending work on Regional Disaster Management Information System

See DP section for work on RERT (Regional Emergency Response Team)

Objective 2: To reinforce the NS's capacities in relation to the planning cycle for improved plans and projects.

Monthly, biannual, and annual work plans were developed for the 16 national societies. An evaluation was carried out examining the decentralization of management for the Togolese Red Cross. The evaluation looked at the impact of projects made in reinforcing local capacities, and the national society's impact in assisting beneficiaries. During this mission, 2-12 February, nine of the fourteen regions covered by the Togolese network were visited allowing for productive discussions with national society partners, volunteers and beneficiaries in the field.

The evaluation revealed that the decentralization of project management had improved operations and encouraged a proactive presence of the local communities. For instance, increased funding was attained from the Spanish Red Cross for community programmes with special focus on gender. A total of 200 volunteers and 2,000 community health workers were trained in ARCHI 2010. Improvement of health and living conditions of beneficiary populations was demonstrated by a decrease in the number of individuals seeking medical attention at health clinics. This represents a substantial savings for many families. The evaluation also provided clarification to the Togolese Red Cross regarding the concept and limits of decentralization. The Côte d'Ivoire Red Cross evaluated the execution of the first year of its development plan 2000/2003 Country Assistance Strategies.

Work was started on Institutional Development plans (including monitoring and evaluation) for the national societies of Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Niger.

Regional OD Delegate visited each of the participating national societies to assist them in the process. The delegate also participated at a meeting held by Burkina Faso NS to present its plan to donors. However, unable to find a local person to facilitate the process, the national societies had difficulty in following up on their plans and mobilizing local donors.

The evaluation decentralization process of the Togolese Red Cross was positive based on its effect on local branches, their programmes and their impact on beneficiaries. Regional OD assisted Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and the Togolese National Societies to develop their Country Assistance Strategies for 2001/2002.

Benin RC undergoing internal conflict, vis a vis Governance, therefore work has been temporarily suspended there.

Work with Cape Verde NS planned for 2002, as per appeal.

Objective 3: To strengthen sub-regional cooperation and information exchange between National Societies to share experiences and competencies.

The Secretary General of Benin NS participated as a resource person in evaluating the WatSan programme of the Zimbabwe Red Cross. His participation allowed him to convey his national society's vision of future programming in the region. The choice of resource person was done in collaboration with the Health Department. The Guinea-Bissau Red Cross was assisted by the Organizational Development Delegate to develop its tracing strategy. The Guinea-Conakry Red Cross was assisted financially so it could evaluate its financial and material resources.

The Secretary General of the Côte d'Ivoire Red Cross participated in a mission of exchange with the Senegal Red Cross from 28 June to 5, July 2001. The objective of this mission was to share Senegalese Red Cross experience with the Côte d'Ivoire Red Cross in the areas of administrative and financial management and in fund-raising through projects to generate income. The Côte d'Ivoire Red Cross Secretary General reinforced his knowledge and acquired new experience.

Objective 4: To assist the National Societies of the region to set up efficient financial procedures and achieve better financial management.

This objective was not focused during this appeal due to the lack of a Finance/Resource Development delegate. Position opened Jan. 2001, expected to be filled Jan. 2002.

Objective 5: To develop the resource development capacities of National Societies in order to increase their level off local funding and self reliance.

Support was given to the Côte d'Ivoire Red Cross in fund-raising activities. National Societies of Burkina Faso and Benin also received support from the Regional Delegation in planning and organizing fund-raising initiatives. The Gambia, Mauritania and Niger National Societies have each been equipped with a computer and software to support their resource development programs, and to improve their financial management.

As result of these activities, the Côte d'Ivoire Red Cross raised 2,500 CHF from the sale of first aid kits, and Senegal Red Cross now offers first aid courses for 2,000 CHF per session.

The Burkina Faso Red Cross, in collaboration with a local NGO, la Fondation une Meilleure Vie, is setting up a centre for disabled persons . The centre will provide disabled persons with a reception centre where they can find activities, food, and non-food assistance. The national society held a lottery to raise funds for this centre, but additional funds are still required before the center can be opened.

In an effort to develop a Regional Development Fund, three sub-regional groups have pooled their resources in a nascent effort, though the fund is small at present, there are hopes that it will grow. Unfortunately the national societies are faced with a lack of good fund-raising initiatives to increase their financial means. Those national societies who show good initiative to carry out fund-raising projects will be prioritized for support and technical assistance.

Objective 6: To facilitate the "development cooperation" between West African NSs and sister societies, as well as other partners.

Regional OD met with the French Red Cross Delegate to examine how to reinforce the capacities of the Niger Red Cross by better planned cooperation of the Regional Delegation and the French Red Cross

West African Partnership Coordination Meeting was held 23-27, April in Dakar. The purpose of the meeting was to review each NS's development plans and strategies; for all partners to work together to prepare a CAS for each NS; and to draft a CAS through the working groups, who will define the participating NSs' priorities.

A planning workshop for the members of the Lomé Group (Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo) was held 20-21 June 2001 in Abidjan. During this meeting, an assessment of the agricultural situation of the Sahelian countries was made, as well as, an assessment of the countries affected by drought (Burkina Faso, Niger).

With the arrival of an OD delegate, preliminary "Terms of Reference" for the West African Sub Regional Working Groups were agreed upon during a 2-day delegation brainstorming session held on 18-19 December in Grand Bassam, and follow up steps have been put in place to operationalize the plans starting early 2002.

Regional Cooperation

Objective I: To assist West African national societies in the implementation of the West African Regional Strategy.

The West African Regional Strategy was discussed during the Presidents' Meeting in September where it was decided to ask the Regional Working Groups to redefine the Strategy, with more systematic input of national societies into the Annual Appeal and more extensive use of the Cooperation Agreement Strategies, to be established throughout 2002-2003 for each national society.

Dakar sub-region

The Dakar subregional office assisted Guinea Red Cross in planning its objectives, particularly with regard to the ARCHI process and volunteer management. The subregional office also assessed seven national societies in areas related to ARCHI. In addition, the office prepared the sectoral group meeting on food security based on recommendations from the regional workshop. The head of the subregional office established contacts with the government and with humanitarian agencies.

Objective 2: To ensure a regular follow up of the Ouagadougou Pan African Conference recommendations.

The four priority areas established by the national societies of Africa during the 5th Pan African Conference (PAC) in 2000 - community health, volunteer management, HIV/AIDS and food security - were being followed up within various fora. For example, progress in community health was assessed at the biannual regional health meetings organized by the regional delegation, volunteer management with the support of the Africa volunteer management delegate (a West Africa meeting was planned for February 2002), HIV/AIDS was followed by the regional coordinator and within the framework of country plans and food security, a schedule was established by the regional disaster preparedness delegate.

Objective 3: To assist West African members of the statutory bodies.

Following the General Assembly in November 2001, consultation with the national societies forming part of the governing bodies and ad hoc commissions of the International Federation indicated a renewed desire to benefit from discussions introducing region-wide topics prior to statutory meetings. Informal discussions prior to Governing Board meetings and consultation within the Sectoral Groups ensured that aspects important to West Africa were brought to the attention of the relevant bodies.

Objective 4: To develop partnerships in our core areas with ICRC, participating national societies, leading international organizations and embassies.

Excellent relations at the counterpart level between ICRC and the regional delegation masked the need for real progress in fulfilling the objectives of the Seville Agreement, especially with regard to functional cooperation.

Objective 5: To ensure access by all 16 West African national societies to the most efficient electronic communication means available within the budget.

In light of the regional delegation's priority - to get all national societies online by the end of the year - a communications consultant travelled to the most needy national societies to equip and provide IT support and training. In Liberia LNRCS was equipped with a micro wave wireless link and a Red Cross staff member was trained in e-mail and the use of the Internet. In Guinea, the RCSG was given an e-mail address via the delegation's HF radio wave mail connection. In Nigeria NRCS a 16-point HUB was installed thereby ensuring that all departments had at least one computer hooked up to a LAN. The country delegation agreed to pay a consultant to teach national staff on the use of the Internet. Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Côte d' Noire remained the only national societies without Internet services in the region.

Objectives 6 and 7: To increase the number of delegates recruited from the West Africa region, and to contribute to the exchange of experience and competencies within the region, thereby reinforcing national society capacity.

Contacts were made with national societies with the aim of finding counterparts to assist with the BTC recruitment process. The BTC procedure was explained to the counterparts and the schedule was sent. A total of 35 potential candidates were identified according to the following occupational breakdowns: Health (10), Development (9), Finance (3), First Aid (12), Information (1). So far, one individual, the secretary general of the Ghana Red Cross, benefited from the BTC held in Denmark in May.

Coordination and Management

Objective I: To improve services of the regional delegation by aligning its work more closely to Strategy 2010, emphasizing cost efficiency and improving services to national societies and country delegations in the region (Delegation Management).

To better meet the needs of the national societies through increased proximity and more effective use of regional and other technical assistance, the opening of the office in Dakar was a first step towards establishing subregional offices in West Africa by mid-2002. The remaining two sub-regional offices (Abidjan and Lagos) were scheduled for completion by June 2002. Although viable measures of cost efficiency did not yet exist at the regional delegation, it was nonetheless clear that the absence of a practical legal status agreement increased costs and decreased efficiency. Extensive discussions with the government throughout 2002 did not result in substantial progress towards an appropriate legal status agreement with the host government (Côte d'Ivoire). Closer contacts were established at most levels with the country delegations.

Reporting

Objectives 2. 3. 4. 5. 6 and 7: To issue narrative reports on programmes and operations in West Africa in conformity with the Federation's minimum reporting standards; to provide training to national societies on Federation reporting formats and report-writing techniques; to stimulate dialogue with the national societies in the region on reporting issues, and to raise awareness as to the essential role of reporting; to liaise with the country delegations and to provide advice on reporting issues in cooperation with OFR; to provide advice to national societies on internal reporting systems and procedures, as required; and to respond to queries from PNSs on reports on the regional programmes and operations in West Africa, as requested, and to ensure that their concerns on reporting issues are taken into account.

With the arrival of a reporting delegate in May, the delegation was able to fulfil its reporting requirements with new Federation formats and standards. Staff in the regional delegation were familiarized with reporting formats, provided with tools and trained in report-writing techniques, and encouraged to pass this information on to national societies.

The regional delegation liaised with country delegations and advised on reporting issues following the minimum reporting standards. A regional reporting officer came on board in November and for the last two months of the year she worked on country programme updates, the Meningitis Final Report, the Niger Drought Report, the Yellow Fever Final Report, and the delegation's monthly reports. The reporting officer made a trip to the Guinea delegation to familiarize herself with the operations in three refugee camps. She also made contacts with country delegations in Nigeria and Sierra Leone regarding their reporting needs.

Finance

Objective 8: To ensure the accuracy of financial records from the country delegations in the region.

All accounts on FRT systems were processed during the year and documents were checked for compliance with the Federation's financial regulations and procedures.

Objective 9: To improve financial management and accounting procedures of national societies for projects funded through the regional delegation.

During the year Federation finance procedures were explained to the management of all national societies in the region and consequently working advance management and reporting improved. Furthermore, through the regional cooperation programme all national societies agreed, in principle, to have regular external audits.

Objective 10: To improve procedures and accountancy skills within the delegation and the country delegations in the region.

All finance personnel and some non-finance personnel within the region were trained in Federation financial regulations and procedures. The impact of this training was seen in more timely and accurate accounting from delegations in the region and more active involvement of programme managers in financial management.

For further details please contact: Anne Kirsti Vandal, Phone : 41 22 730 4485; Fax: 4122 733 03 95; e-mail: vartdal@ifrc.org

All International Federation Operations seek to adhere to the Code of Conduct and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

For further information concerning Federation operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation web site at http://www.ifrc.org.

John Horekens
Head
Relationship Management Department

Bekele Geleta
Head
Africa Department

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