The response of communities to the extensive problems that have resulted from the HIV and AIDS epidemic has been incredible. Existing non-profit organisations (NPOs) have either introduced HIV and AIDS programmes or changed the whole nature of their activities and focus. New NPOs are being formed daily to help. The more NPOs become involved in tackling every aspect of the HIV and AIDS epidemic, the greater the benefit to South Africa and its people. And the more capable these organisations are, the more chance they will have of making a real difference.

Building capacity

While the mission and commitment of each and every NPO may have similarities, their effectiveness varies enormously. Many smaller NPOs organisations are handicapped by a lack of skills and resources. They frequently lack the management and financial skills needed to make a real impact. Knowledge on how to write a basic business plan and how to apply to government departments, corporates and funding organisations for financial support can make all the difference to an organisation’s effectiveness and capacity. But accessing funds is only the start. Organisations not only need to learn how to manage their finances and become accountable to their donors, they also need to learn how to manage and motivate their staff and volunteers, increase their skills through appropriate training, and network with other organisations. Capacity building is therefore essential to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of NPOs working in this field. Several organisations have been formed to do just that and their main function is to help improve the capacity of existing NPOs, as well as assist new ones to start up. Capacity-building organisations also believe that it is better to work through and support existing community-based organisations, as these organisations have an understanding of the particular needs and challenges that their own communities face. Networking with other organisations is an important part of building capacity, and most of the capacity-building organisations facilitate this process.

Some of the larger capacity-building organisations within South Africa are described below. Please note that this list is not comprehensive. There are many smaller capacity-building organisations working throughout the nine different provinces which are featured in the General AIDSbuzz Directory.