This appeal seeks CHF 1,192,780(1) to fund programmes and activities to be implemented in 2006 and 2007. These programmes are aligned with the International Federation's Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity" .
Global Agenda goals:

1. Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.

2. Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.

3. Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross and Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.

4. Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.

The International Federation is the world's largest humanitarian organization, and its millions of volunteers are active in over 183 countries. Our aim is to build safer communities, able to prevent and respond to human suffering in times of crises and distress, and where people work together to promote hope, dignity and equity. We work to support vulnerable communities through neutral, impartial, independent humanitari an action, in accordance with our Fundamental Principles and in line with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Code of Conduct, the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, and the SPHERE Project.

Programmes	2006 Budget in CHF	2007 Budget in CHF	Total Budget in CHF
Health and Care	2,349,613	3,449,228	5,798,841
Disaster Management	1,741,431	1,308,041	3,049,472
Organizational Development	3,394,826	3,125,806	6,520,632
Implementation and Coordination	459,612	498,657	958,269
Totals	7,945,482	8 ,381,792	16,327,274

Regional context

Southern Africa region has an estimated population of 120 million people, nearly 80% of who are living below the poverty datum line. The region is currently faced with yet another food crisis with seven countries (Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Zambia) hard hit by severe drought. According to WFP, a total of ten million people in the region are living on the brink of food insecurity, which accounts for nearly a third of the population. This comes at a time when many countries were in their rebuilding process following severe natural disasters such as drought, floods and veldt fires since the year 2000. The residual effects of the previous food crisis coupled with HIV/AIDS have worsened the situation especially for people living with the pandemic.

The 'triple threat' of HIV/AIDS, erratic rainfall pattern and weakened government capacity, demands new approaches from the humanitarian assistance community in dealing with the increasing deterioration of human development indicators and deepening of poverty. While poor weather was the cause for the food insecurity experienced in 2002/03, the depth of underlying vulnerability makes the impact of these shocks far worse than was the case in the drought of 1992/3. The massive increase in vulnerable households and communities due to poverty and socio-economic problems is closely related to the overall decline in human development indicators in most countries in Southern Africa. As a result, vulnerable populations are unable to provide for their own needs while communities, civil society and states are increasingly unable t o assist them.

Apart from disease outbreaks, localised floods, hailstorms, socio-political and economic instability, the prime long-term challenge in the region remains the scaling-up of HIV/AIDS, nutrition and food security activities. The southern Africa region is disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS: more than 25% of the adult population in the region is HIV-positive(2) which mainly include the most productive group. Life expectancy has significantly dropped to alarmingly low levels; the number of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS (OVC) and dependents continues to rise as the disease takes its toll on the productive age group. This has had a negative impact on the socio-economic performance which continues to deteriorate as the work force diminishes. Compounding the problem, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) require not only treatment for other opportunistic infections but nutritious diet for their survival as lack of food weakens their immune system.

It is now widely accepted that household food insecurity in rural and urban southern Africa cannot be properly understood unless HIV/AIDS is factored into the equation. Livelihood -based analysis of linkages between food security and HIV/AIDS show that the impact is symbiotic; it is af ecting all aspects of rural livelihoods and effective analysis of causes and outcomes of HIV/AIDS requires a contextual understanding of livelihoods unique to a given area and social groups.

The Federation has identified and developed new approaches that will address the issue of integration with HIV/AIDS at a programmatic level in the implementation of its intervention activities. Some projects have already started in some countries, and models have been documented and replicated in other countries to improve sustainability of food production to vulnerable communities in the region.

Federation Secretariat support to the region

The southern Africa region future plans on support to national societies are driven by the mission statements from S2010 "to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

Mission Statement: "Supporting the national societies to build real resilience in communities, to advocate for equity and dignity for all, to contribute to vulnerabili ty reduction and humanity mobilization, and to strengthen effectively our global network"

Southern Africa region is reaffirming the commitments made at the 5th Pan Africa Conference in Ouagadougou in 2000 as well as the 2004 Algiers Plan of Action. For a real difference, the regional delegation plans to ensure continuity over a longer period (5 to 10 years) and that national society are;

- Developing strong leadership in a transparent, credible and accountable manner for implementing qualitative programmes through mobilizing the network of volunteers;

- Taking the lead in supporting the most vulnerable in Africa by empowering local communities;

- Serving the vulnerable through enhanced partnerships at country and international levels.

The four year Vision: "Strengthen the capacity of national societies to respond to the need of their country with less external intervention, with empowerment of communities, provision of effective local branch support, involvement of volunteers, high integrity and with strong governance and management"

Taking from the Algiers Plan of Action, which is the four-year focus (2004-2008):

- Making a major difference to the health of vulnerable people in Africa by adopting and implementing the ARCHI 2010 strategy.

The Federation regional delegation is recruiting a health and care coordinator and with a strengthened department should address this objective (malaria, TB, immunisation, other health epidemic (cholera). Therefore national societies will be assisted, coordinated by the regional delegation in making ARCHI 2010 strategy operational.

- Responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic as an unprecedented humanitarian and development disaster in Africa, by massively scaling up their response in terms of advocacy, prevention, care and mitigation.

In 2005, the regional delegation launched the OVC strategy which will be implemented for the next five years by all national societies. The regional delegation prioritised its support for 2006-7 to prevention, OVC and ART. A new officer living positively with HIV/AIDS was recruited in 2005 to support the partnership with NAP+(3) organisations and to develop workplace policy, advocacy campaigns, anti stigma and discrimination initiatives in the region. Most of the regional HIV/AIDS activities have beensup ported by a Consortium of partners since 2002. Lessons learned from the mid-term review of the programme have been included in the newly drafted 5-year HIV/AIDS regional strategy based on each country plan that will be issued in early 2006. Twenty five best practices have been identified from the programme and will be published as from end of 2005.

- Making food security a strategic priority for this decade, recognizing that food insecurity is directly linked to a number of root causes, including poverty, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the worsening debt crisis and armed conflict.

In response to the food insecurity declared in seven southern African countries in 2005, the regional delegation conducted food security assessment during the summer and launched a new Food Insecurity Emergency Appeal in October with short term and long term phases' addressing the root causes in the regional plan, thus poverty, HIV/AIDS and lack of government capacity.

- Building up national societies capacities for improved management, coaching and support of their volunteers and branch networks.

Southern Africa is conforming to this plan of action, by focusing on organizational development and finance development, governance and management relations, updating of Statutes, annual general assemblies and meetings, on resource mobilizationa nd local/regional partnership as well as on information and visibility.

- Get the buy-in of the newly established" New Partnership for African Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies" (NEPARC).

Some national societies in the region have already gone through the Strategic Business Solutions (SGS) international non-governmental benchmark audit and are integrating the results in the country support plan.

By addressing the triple threats (poverty, HIV/AIDS and government capacities) as highlighted by James Morris (WFP head) and by being realistic on our national society's capacities supported by a strong vision, the Federation is aligned to other stakeholders to ensure good coordination and avoid overlapping of efforts.

Footnotes:

(1) Budget totals by programme are as stated above. Full budget statements will be made available shortly.

(2) UNAIDS Regional Situation Report No. 6 issued to SADC countries in April 2003, Gaborone, Botswana.

(3) NAP+ refers to the Network of African People Living with HIV/AIDS

For further information please contact:

In Botswana : Norah Moplhabane, Secretary General, Botswana Red Cross Society, Gaborone; Email: brcs@info.bw; Phone +267.35.24.65; Fax +267.35.23.52

In Lesotho: Thabelo Ramatlapeng, Secretary General, Lesotho Red Cross Society, Maseru; Email: redcross@redcross.org.ls ; Phone +266.31.39.11, Fax +266.31.01.66

In Malawi: McBain Kanongodza, Secretary General, Malawi Red Cross Society, Lilongwe; Email: mrcs@eomw.net; Phone +265.1.77.52.90; Fax +265.1.77.55.90

In Namibia: Razia Essack-Kauaria, Secretary General, Namibia Red Cross Society, Windhoek; Email: secgen@redcross.org.na; Phone +264.61. 23.52.16; Fax +264.61.22.89.49

In South Africa: Leslie Mondo, Secretary General, South African Red Cross Society, Cape Town; Email: lmondo@redcross.org.za; Phone +272.14.18.66.40; Fax +272.14.18.66.44

In Swaziland: Sibongile Hlope, Secretary General, Baphalali Swaziland Red Cross Society, Mbabane; Email: sibongile@redcross.og.sz; Phone +268.404.25.32; Fax +268.404.61.08

In South Africa: Seija Tyrninoksa, Federation Representative in South Africa, Cape Town; Email: f i rcsa15@ifrc.org; Phone +272.14.86.64.40; Fax +272.14.18.66.44

In Zimbabwe: Françoise Le Goff, Head of Southern Africa Regional Delegation, Harare; Email: i f rczw02@ifrc.org; Phone: +263.4.70.61.55, +263.4.70.61.56; Fax: +263.4.70.87.84

In Geneva:Ter ry Carney, Federation Regional Officerf or Southern Africa,Afr ica Dept., Geneva; Email: terry.carney@ifrc.org; Phone: +41.22.730.4 2.98, Fax: +41.22.733.03.97

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