UNDP Harps On Building Relationships In HIV/AIDS Campaign

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has enjoined members of the Centre for Transformational Leadership Development (CTLD) to be proactive in building relationships in the fight against HIV/AIDS in order to achieve the goal of the organisation. Dr. Nicole Kouassi, the HIV/AIDS team leader of UNDP, Abuja, who gave the charge during the 2nd leadership Development Programme/Community Capacity Enhancement (CCE) forum at Abuja, said the essence of building relationship with other stakeholders is to strengthen the capacity of LDP and CCE. Other reasons include to promote networking, share experiences and to map out strategies in accessing funds from various stakeholders and donor agencies to implement programmes. According to her, the objective of the forum was to chart a way forward to support the institutionalisation and sustainability of CTLD and CCE at federal, state and local level. The HIV/AIDS team leader further stated that the purpose of the forum was also to build the capacity of leaders and deepen their understanding on CTLC and CCE constructs. Also speaking, Mrs. Hassana Dawha of UNDP urged member of CTLC to come up with structures to reactivate state’s branches to establish zonal structure, as well as coming up with a work plan for 2010 at the end of the workshop. She, however, advised members of CTLD and CCE to take the forum seriously so as to chart a way forward to make the body a functional one, noting that UNDP may no longer fund programmes for the organization. The forum, which attracted 93 CTLD Alumni and CCE practitioners from the 36 states and the Federal capital Territory (FCT) at Abuja, resolved that a national secretariat be urgently established at Abuja or elsewhere. Other resolutions are for the zonal coordinators to ensure that state chapters are formed, as well as resolving to mobilise resources in a bid to partner with other organisations to support network activities and implementation of programmes.