East Timor Annual Appeal (01.63/04) Programme Update No.1

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In Brief

Appeal No. 01.63/2004; Programme Update No. 1; Period covered: January to March 2004; Appeal target: CHF 544,812; Appeal coverage: 117%; Outstanding needs: CHF 0.

NB. Although the appeal is well covered, the appeal budget is currently under review as the majority of funds are earmarked, leaving uncovered needs in other programme areas.

Programme summary: The East Timor Red Cross Society (Cruz Vermelha de Timor Leste or CVTL) health programme has become increasingly active. Following its first disaster operation CVTL has appointed a disaster management coordinator and prepares for a higher level of activities in 2004. Implementation of the organisation development plan of action has started.

Operational developments

The United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) mandate expired on 20 May 2004 but has been extended until May 2005 based on an interim Security Council review after six months. Most of the current 3,000 troops will leave but a proposed resolution aims at retaining 310 troops, 42 military officers, 157 police advisors, 58 civilian advisors and a 125-person International Response Unit. There is uncertainty in East Timor about the economic consequences of the UN downscaling. Job losses are certain but there may be positive impacts on general price levels and the artificial economic duality created by an extensive international presence.

There is, in general, little positive economic development in East Timor; rather, the country is totally dependent on foreign aid.

Health and Care

CVTL's capacity to deliver quality health programmes is increasing with volunteers trained to implement first aid, community-based first aid (CBFA) and HIV/AIDS programmes. A major achievement this quarter was the organisation of a one-week comprehensive first aid training for 16 professional nurses, requested by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and supported by WHO.

The fresh CVTL first aid trainers, supported by PMI (the Indonesian Red Cross Society) trainers, conducted the course which was labelled by MoH and WHO as the best so far in East Timor. The event spurred a number of requests for first aid training from various organisations. This has allowed CVTL to start raising funds, if modest,

CVTL's three water teams, bilaterally supported by the Australian Red Cross Society, the Australia -East Timor Community Water Supply and Sanitation Project (CWSSP ) and AusAID, continued their water supply projects in Suai, Maliana and Maubisse, expanding to include hygiene, sanitation and he alth. CVTL's health team and its water teams together developed a comprehensive community-based water and sanitation (wat/san) programme, including a pilot project in Edy village, Maubisse.

Overall Goal: The general health conditions of the East Timorese population - and particularly vulnerable groups - are improved .

Programme Objective: The capacity of CVTL to deliver quality health services to the most vulnerable in the communities is enhanced through the establishment of a professional and effective he alth department.

Expected Result 1

Increased capacity for CVTL health division and key staff in branches to implement, coordinate, manage and monitor health programmes.

Progress/Achievements

A first aid refresher course for 16 volunteers was conducted by CVTL's own trainers in Dili in February.

A first aid curriculum was developed for first aid training for external organisations (based on needs, with inputs from PMI trainers).

Health and water teams cooperated successfully in the wat/san pilot project.

CVTL's health coordinator developed an HIV/AIDS project proposal, with limited support from the health delegate, and achieved approval from NGO partner Family Health International (FHI).

CVTL included dissemination on the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and principles in all health training.

CVTL raised funds from its first aid training.

Impact

CVTL volunteer first aid trainers are qualified to train other volunteers and staff from other organisations.

CVTL volunteer first aid trainers are acquiring the qualifications needed to train professional nurses, without external support.

There is a steady capacity increase among CVTL health staff to plan, organise and follow up on health activities.

There is increasing knowledge of the movement and Red Cross/Red Crescent principles among volunteers.

CVTL health personnel and water teams ' understanding of CBFA and wat/san improved and their ability to cooperate on planning and implementation increased.

CVTL's income from first aid training adds financial value to the activity.

Constraints

CVTL's management of logistics and roles/responsibilities when organising training needs improvement.

CVTL staff's English skills are limited and training is needed.

Accommodation in Dili and training sessions are expensive.

With growing donor interest in supporting CVTL health programme s, staff are increasingly facing different reporting and implementation requirements.

Expected Result 2

The health conditions of the rural population in three districts are improved through the provision of clean water and sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion.

Progress/Achievements

Volunteers and staff (21) from 11 districts and sub-districts, together with 4 village leaders, received 7 days training in hygiene education/basic health care. Data on general health problems in rural areas had been collected by volunteers from 11 districts. Information material was borrowed from Myanmar Red Cross Society but the participants also created their own.

The Edy pilot project, an integrated wat/san and CBFA approach, started in Maubisse. A participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation (PHAST) process was initiated with a meeting with the villagers in January, and technical installations of water systems started in February. A community action planning workshop was organised in March. The overall progress is good and the villagers positive. Water provision will be completed in June and construction of latrines will start subsequently. The technical components of the project are bilaterally funded, while the CBFA is part of the appeal programme.

An activity plan for the coming months was developed.

Impact

21 volunteers and CVTL staff from 11 districts have basic knowledge in CFBA and wat/san.

There is growing hygiene/health awareness in Edy.

Constraints

Funding for the 2004 wat/san programme is not yet confirmed.

Expected Result 3

There is increased capacity for treatment and prevention of common diseases and injuries in targeted communities.

Progress/Achievements

Key health volunteers conducted first aid training in February for 16 government nurses, with limited external technical support.

A six-day first aid training for 10 staff from the NGO Concern was held in Dili in February.

The first CBFA training (mentioned above) was held aimed at qualifying volunteers for the Edy project as well as for CBFA work in other districts.

New CBFA projects were planned in Ermera and Maliana.

A first aid workshop demonstration was held for 56 students in elementary schools in March.

A first aid workshop demonstration was held for 70 people at the National University of East Timor (UNTL) in March.

Articles/information on basic health issues were spread through the children's magazine Lafaek , also read by adults, reaching up to 125,000 people .

On World Health Day (7 April) , CVTL's activities included: first aid demonstrations and distribution of first aid pocket manuals at a football match attended by some 500 people (a joint arrangement with MoH and WHO); a first aid demonstration at UNTL for 360 persons; and a first aid workshop and distribution of first aid pocket manuals in 6 senior high schools for a total of 745 students.

Impact

Several thousand children and adults have picked up knowledge about basic health issues from CVTL articles.

16 government nurses have enhanced knowledge of first aid.

10 staff members of "Concern" have basic knowledge of first aid.

There is increased knowledge of first aid among students in schools and UNTL.

Some 500 people have a simple first aid manual available .

There is increasing public knowledge of CVTL as a health actor.

Constraints

CVTL's trainers still need follow-up training/coaching before they can train medical personnel in first aid independently.

The branches are keen to expand health activities but have limited capacity. Headquarter's capacity to support and guide branches is also limited.

An increasing number of requests for first aid training from external organisations have to be balanced against the same capacity.

Limited basic knowledge of health among people is still a limiting factor in training contexts.

Expected Result 4

Increased awareness and knowledge of HIV/AIDS among CVTL staff/volunteers as well as targeted communities.

Progress/Achievements

12 volunteers from 8 districts participated in a two-day HIV/AIDS follow-up workshop in January. They all presented updates on district activities and information collected on problems faced when organising HIV/AIDS activities.

25 volunteers from 11 districts were trained by experienced PMI trainers in a six-day HIV/AIDS peer education and life skills workshop in February , supported by FHI.

CVTL attended a HIV/AIDS IEC material development coordination meeting organised by FHI and was appointed as a member of the IEC material development working group.

CVTL attended the HIV/AIDS national coordination meeting organised by UNICEF.

Volunteers gave presentations on HIV/AIDS to three junior high schools in March.

Impact

There has been a s teady growth of knowledge with regard to HIV/AIDS among CVTL volunteers.

Trained volunteers have a basic understanding of HIV/AIDS, as well as of CVTL plans (overall as well as health) for 2004 and beyond.

Volunteers have learned how to request support and to present reports to national headquarters.

Basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS is spreading among junior high school students in Baucau.

Constraints

Trained volunteers still require skills to organise and implement HIV/AIDS information/training properly.

Disaster Management

CVTL has for the first time launched a disaster management (DM) programme in 2004. A flood disaster in Maliana district at the end of last year became CVTL's first operational DM challenge. The operation was reported to the outside world through the Federation website, and support to CVTL's DM programme from the Australian, Norwegian and Hong Kong Red Cross Societies provided funding sufficient to cover the operations and plan the first steps of a DM programme, including three workshops/training events in the near future.

Overall Goal: CVTL meets the minimum requirements of its emergency response role in the National Disaster Management Office National Disaster Plan.

Programme Objective: In close cooperation with the health and organisational development programmes, the CVTL volunteer base is expanded and developed in order to create a reasonable capacity to respond to natural and man-made disasters.

Expected Result

The CVTL is better prepared to respond to emergencies quickly with a minimum relief contingency stock and a strong volunteer base.

Progress/A chievements

CVTL responded adequately to the flood disaster in Maliana with assessment, distribution of family kits, clothes and rice seeds.

As part of the restructuring of headquarters from February to April, CVTL selected an experienced staff member as DM coordinator.

Plans were made for three workshops/training events to be held in May/June, with support from the regional delegation and PMI.

Impact

CVTL was able to meet humanitarian needs and staff and volunteers gained valuable expe rience.

There is increased interest in support/cooperation from donors/other agencies.

CVTL is on the way to implementing a DM programme.

A coordinator is in place, leading the development of the DM programme.

CVTL needs to expand its DM appeal budget.

Constraints

Apart from droughts, most disasters in East Timor are small or medium-sized and attract little international attention, even if creating humanitarian challenges. This renders funding for response difficult.

Organisational Development

Supported by a joint ICRC/IFRC team, CVTL adopted a Plan of Action in December 2003. The plan aims at recognition as a member of the Federation by 2005 and implies extensive activities over a two-year period. The process was meant to start early in 2004. This necessitated, however, the engagement of an organisational development (OD) delegate, who is only due to take up his position in May.

Overall Goal: CVTL has made measurable progress towards establishment and recognition as a fully fledged national society by 2005, and undertakes a visible role in the humanitarian sector in East Timor.

Programme Objective: The basic foundation, adequately resourced, has been laid to enable the creation of a sound national Red Cross society in East Timor.

Expected Result 1

There is clear and significant progress towards the development of CVTL as a well functioning national society.

Progress/Achievements

The process of informing and preparing the branches for the Plan of Action has started.

Identification of new board members - a process that is needed to strengthen the board and to boost the implementation of the Plan of Action - has begun.

The draft laws of recognition and emblem protection have been processed by the Council of Ministers; the council expressed concerns about certain terms and returned the laws for further processing. Some of the government's concerns collide with Movement principles. After discussions with the Minister of Health, it has been recommended that the delegation seek a meeting with the Prime Minister.

Impact

The board and management's understanding of roles and interaction is increasing.

The board and the management are committed to pursuing the goals of the plan, even if implementation is delayed (see below).

Constraints

The employment of the OD delegate took longer than expected, and the plan of recognition in 2005 poses a challenge.

The current small number of active board members (2-6) hampers the board's work.

CVTL saw a financial crisis at the beginning of the year, prompting a review of its structure (discussed below); this crisis is still not resolved.

The new staff contracts will expire at the end of the year, as will essential programmes that provide funding for core CVTL staff. This will necessitate new staff revisions.

The government's concerns about Red Cross/Red Crescent laws come from the highest political level, and have so far not been available for discussion.

The lack of a final result in terms of the legal process keeps CVTL in an uncertain state with regard to its legal status.

Expected Result 2

The CVTL has in place appropriate management structures and skills.

Progress/Achievements

Helped by the Federation human resources officer from Kuala Lumpur, CVTL has reviewed its structure and adopted a new organisational chart, reduc ing the staff by 4 members.

The board decided to review the salary structure and to seek a solution for CVTL's mechanical workshop, which today is a drain on its economy.

The three-person strong management committee established la st year was dissolved and the secretary general is now the sole leader of CVTL's management.

Impact

Reduction of staff and expenses means an improvement in CVTL's financial situation, even if limited.

The new structure is expected to be more relevant to CVTL's needs .

Unclearness about management removed.

Constraints

Lack of fundraising/income generation activities pose a problem, as does insufficient programme contributions to core costs.

Funding of several CVTL positions is still not in place.

CVTL management would like to keep the mechanical workshop, but can ill afford it.

The restructuring process, including staff reductions , faces very strong negative reactions from CVTL staff.

Expected Result 3

Financial and resource development systems are introduced to underpin sustainability.

Progress/Achievements

A national fundraising workshop, facilitated by colleagues from the regional office and the Philippine National Red Cross, was held in March involving headquarters staff and representatives from 9 districts. This was funded by the Swedish Red Cross Society as a delayed 2003 activity.

One CVTL staff member was selected as responsible for fundraising for a two-year period.

Plans were made for a follow -up workshop and establishment of a fundraising team that will support the branches in fundraising activities. Development of a fundraising strategy for CVTL is being prepared.

Impact

A foundation for fundraising activities in branches and on a national level is being laid.

Constraints

The branches lack leadership and coordination capacity. Branch coordinators are largely engaged in tracing activities funded by ICRC and UNHCR with little capacity for coordination of other activities. The issue will be addressed as part of the Plan of Action.

Expected Result 4

Red Cross youth and volunteer groups are established in Dili and the branches.

Progress/Achievements

Volunteer groups exist in all districts, even if they are not yet well organised.

The number of volunteers in Dili has kept increasing.

There has been a steady development of volunteer activit ies, particularly in the health sector.

There has been no new expansion of CVTL's branch network, as there is a need for consolidation and structuring in line with the Plan of Action.

Impact

There has been a steady increase in knowledge and skills among involved volunteers. The local population has benefited from first aid and CBFA activities in the districts, even if the programme activities are fledgling and underdeveloped.

Constraints

Limited activities and lack of branch leadership have in some districts reduced the volunteer base. There is a strong desire to build up increased programme activities in the branches and accelerate organisational development. Both are long-term processes.

Representation, Management and Implementation

Coordination

Progress/achievements

Dialogue and information exchange with partner national societies was strengthened. During this period, the Austrian and Danis h Red Cross Societies, as well as the Republic of Korea National Red Cross, visited CVTL to assess possibilities for continued or new support.

CVTL continued to receive support from: the Australian Red Cross Society (wat/san, DM and funding of an OD delegate); the Norwegian Red Cross Society (funding of the Federation representative, DM and OD); Republic of Korea National Red Cross (funding health); the New Zealand Red Cross Society (funding OD and health).

Other partner national societies have expressed interest in bilateral cooperation in wat/san, health and DM.

Following a suggestion from the Federation delegation, the MoH took an initiative to establish a routine with regular coordination meetings involving all NGOs/agencies involved in health in East Timor. The CVTL health coordinator also continued to participate in various coordination meetings organised by NGOs and UN agencies.

Several partners of CVTL have expressed interest in a partnership meeting late 2004, provided it can be linked to partnership meetings in other countries in the region, in order to limit travel. Options for such an arrangement are being discussed and a conclusion is expected shortly.

Impact

There are now closer connections with partners.

There is increased partner national society interest in supporting CVTL.

There is improved interaction between health actors in East Timor.

Constraints

The coordination initiated by MoH still needs development and structuring.

Sub-group cooperation is planned but not yet implemented.

A fledgling society, CVTL must avoid engaging with a big number of donors with different approaches and planning/reporting requirements. Increasing donor interest increases the need for coordination.

Coordination/information exchange with UN agencies (especially WHO) is hampered by their frequent changes of staff (6 monthly contracts).

Representation

Progress/A chievements

On Internatio nal Red Cross/Red Crescent Day, CVTL arranged a celebration at headquarters, inviting local volunteers/community members for a presentation on discrimination. The event was a good opportunity to raise awareness among volunteers of the necessity for CVTL to ensure a diverse ethnic/religious volunteer base, as the current volunteers are exclusively Christians .

CVTL attended a limited number of international meetings during this period - a fact that had to do with the ongoing restructuring process.

CVTL, supported by the Federation, is strengthening its working relations with international agencies/organisations in East Timor.

Impact

There is increased interest in cooperation with and support for CVTL from international agencies.

Constraints

A challenge is to limit cooperation to a level that CVTL can handle and avoid approaches that may impinge on CVTL's own development of strategies. Several well funded proposals have been turned down for this reason.

Annex 1

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

In Dili: Dr. Benjamin Corte Real, Chairman CVTL, Francisco Ximenes, Secretary General CVTL. Phone and Fax: 670 3321 688

In Bangkok: Juergen Weyand, Head of Regional Delegation, Southeast Asia Regional Delegation, Bangkok, email: ifrcth23@ifrc.org, phone: +66 2640 8211, fax: +66 2640 8220

In Geneva: Charles Evans, Southeast Asia Regional officer, Asia Pacific Department , email: Charles.Evans@ifrc.org, phone: +41 2273 04320/4456, fax +41 2273 30395

This Programme Update reflects activities to be implemented over a one-year period. This forms part of, and is based on, longer-term, multi-year planning. All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, please access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org