CHRISTIAN SOCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION
GLOBAL FUND PROJECT

Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC) is one of the Lead sub-recipients of the Global Fund Project to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) in round 3 and 4. These are programs which focus on scaling up Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), Provider Initiated Testing and Counseling (PITC), care, treatment and support services for HIV & AIDS and related Tuberculosis in Tanzania mainland.

Main Objectives:
1.    Increase the number of the sexually active population (15-49 yrs old) using VCT services in the 45 target districts.
2.    Provide PLHA and TB patient’s access to comprehensive care and support services in all VCT sites/health facilities and a comprehensive care-plus package in the entire regional/referral centre in the 45 target districts.
3.    Increase the number of VCT clients and TB patients in target districts who are screened for both conditions and treated according to established national protocols.
4.    Increase the number of community care and support groups for PLHA and TB in the 45 target districts.
5.    Strengthen the capacity of partner institutions to coordinate, plan for monitor and evaluate the execution of an integrated HIV/TB programme.

GLOBAL FUND INTERVENTIONS
The HIV/AIDS epidemic has emerged to be a major social problem challenging social services offered by CSSC. In response to the epidemic a range of interventions are implemented across the country. The Churches and other FBOs in Tanzania have continued to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic by providing a number of interventions. Most of these interventions focus on HIV/AIDS prevention and control, treatment, care and support services, HIV/AIDS epidemic impact mitigation etc. CSSC through the Global Fund support uses different approaches to support various church institutions to strengthen and scale up their services in response to HIV/AIDS. CSSC uses the following approaches to support the global Fund implementing partners.

The Global Fund project is implemented through a coordinated multi-sectoral partnership between the Government, Non-government and Faith Based Organizations. For the implementation of Global Fund activities CSSC is responsible for coordinating, monitoring and building the capacity of FBO partners. Through the Global Fund support, CSSC coordinates and oversees the implementation of the Global Fund activities carried out by FBO Global Fund partner institutions.  The main activities implemented by FBO partner institutions include: VCT, PITC, PMTCT, ART services, Linking hospital wards and other departments to VCT services; Linking PLHA and community support/outreach groups to VCT sites for entry, referral and post VCT support, capacity building - training of health service providers on comprehensive care and support services for PLHA/TB patients, Undertake community mobilization and sensitization to increase acceptance of PLHA and PLHA/TB, strengthen M & E capacity of implementing partners through procurement of laboratory, training/office and communication equipments, reinforce partners capacity to plan, manage effective national scaling-up of HIV+/TB care and support etc.

APPROACH TO SUPPORT CHURCH INSTITUTIONS
CSSC uses different approaches to support church institutions to strengthen and scale up their services in response to HIV/AIDS. CSSC uses the following approaches:

•    Capacity building of partner institutions
CSSC coordination role necessitates its involvement in capacity building for its Church member institutions. CSSC identifies capacity gaps in implementation of various HIV/AIDS interventions in church member institutions and design training activities to address these gaps. Some of the areas targeted for capacity building are: Program and Financial management, Project formulation and proposal writing, Project monitoring and evaluation, HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment - training VCT counsellors, Home Based Care service providers and clinicians and other health care service providers etc. Trainings are organized through tutorial sessions, workshops, etc. To meet these needs, CSSC collaborates with other stakeholders at the national, regional and district level to plan and coordinate the trainings.

•    Facilitate coordination and networking among Church, other FBOs with other stakeholders at different levels.
CSSC being an ecumenical national network presents a unique forum and opening for networking and exchange of experiences as well as sharing information among its members. Networking among Church member institutions and other FBOs are being facilitated through Global Fund partner’s coordination meetings, CSSC Zonal Policy Forums, Interfaith forums; inter-facility visits, sharing of information and publication of articles in the CSSC newsletter and website. In addition, CSSC Facilitates/support sensitization meetings and sessions of different faith leaders, school leaders and teachers on streamlining HIV and AIDS in their routine work; promotion of behaviour change, general basic facts of HIV and AIDS, fighting stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS; etc.

CSSC fully embrace partnership and networking as the best strategy for capacity building and expanding potential for comprehensive service coverage and impact achievement.