National Society programme support plan 2008-2009 National Society Red Cross of Benin (RCB) Name of programme and duration Appeal 2008 – 2009 Contact person Gabriel Achade, [email protected] Context The Federation through its Zone and regional offices in Dakar and Lagos respectively has been supporting the Red Cross of Benin (RCB) in its restructuring programme since 2002. The RCB has more than 12,000 members and more than 16,000 volunteers in 59 local branches in 59 districts with diverse cultures across the country. However, these districts have many things in common. The country is marked by recurrent disasters and regularly troubled by ethnic, religious and boundary conflicts. In 2008-2009, the National Society (NS) which has just come out of its internal crisis will work to improve the life of the most vulnerable people in line with the Federations Global Agenda Goals. To achieve these goals, the NS counts on the financial and technical support of the Federation, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), partner national society (PNSs), the United Nations (UN) and governmental agencies, private organizations as well as local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Benin covers an area of 114,763 square kilometers. The country is bordered by Niger in the North, Burkina Faso in the North West, Nigeria in the East, Togo in the West and by the Atlantic Ocean in the South. Benin has a population of 8,200,000 inhabitants out of which children below 15 years represent 47 percent and those between 16 and 24 years old represent over 31 percent of the total population. Benin is ranked at 163 among the 20 poorest countries, with the GDP per capita put at 1,091 PPP USD. With the economy depending on agriculture (36. 8 percent), Industry (12. 6 percent) and services (50, 6 percent), life expectancy at birth is 54.3 years while adult literacy rate is 34.7 percent. The Unite Nations Development Programme (UNDP) human development index, (HDI) 2006, At least 500,000 children lack good treatment and are subjected to child labour (according to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Statistics show that apart from the problem of street children, Benin has a high rate of infant mortality; 160 cases of death of children between zero and five years old per 1000 births, 38 cases of death for 1000 pregnancies. Schools, health centres in rural communities are insufficient and not evenly spread in the country. The level of service offered is decreasing considerably. Only 51 percent of the population has access to potable water. The alarming situation of HIV and AIDS infection leads to high level of vulnerability. On natural disasters, devastating flooding are experienced yearly and threatening the lives of the most vulnerable and those living in precarious condition, notably, in Cotonou communities, Seme-Podji and Abomey-Cavi. Drought is a regular phenomenon in the North. In the last decade, drought has led the degradation of the soil and decrease in the quality and quantity of water thereby leading to the reduction in productivity in agriculture. This could lead to food insecurity in the region. The public health system is made up of the entire administrative services and the health structures under the public authority and the private sector. The lacks of individual and collective hygiene, insufficient environmental sanitation are partly responsible for the poor state of health of the people. The main causes of morbidity are: malaria, diarrhoea and respiratory diseases. State expenditures in providing health and social services are decreasing. It worsens an already difficult situation for the most vulnerable people. Health services indicators in most of the communities are also alarming. Concerning the situation of the children in Benin, the most pronounced problems are: Child trafficking for survival and exploitation. These phenomena are not only in Cotonou but also in other cities of the country and the origin is traced to the less developed areas of Benin. These situations are mainly as a result of the ineptitude of parents to play their primary role of providing their children with basic needs such as feeding, schooling, education, because they are poor or because of HIV/AIDS or the difficult situation of the families. These children, out in the streets, are vulnerable to health, hygiene, hunger, insecurity problems. The street children are abandoned to their fate with lack of support and means of survival. This appeal covering the period of 2008 to 2009 aims at enhancing the image of the National Society (NS), making it a well functioning national society (WFNS) that is more operational and efficient in accomplishing its fundamental objective of alleviating the sufferings of the most vulnerable in Benin. Programme purpose and outcomes Disaster Management Global Agenda Goal 1: Reduce the number of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters Through the programme, the NS will reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from disaster, diseases and public health emergencies. The NS will also reduce the risk of food insecurity, non-respect for diversity and human dignity, intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion. It will increase the capacities of the local communities, the civil societies, Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to tackle the most urgent situations. The Red Cross of Benin (RCB) has few permanent staff and depends mainly on volunteers. The permanent staffs are based at the headquarters while majority of the Red Cross volunteers are youths. The society is making progress in the organizational development approach adopted with support of the Federation since 2002. The NS also needs to strengthen its synergic approach to increase assistance to the most vulnerable. Today, the NS depends on external financial sources not only for its programmes, but also for its basic expenses. With an inspiration from the Global Agenda, the Algiers Plan of Action, Strategy 2010 and ARCHI 2010, the society will focus on the following programmes areas in 2008-2009: 2 Programme component: Disaster preparedness Expected outcomes: • The volunteers and staff of RCB have understood very well the vulnerability linked to emergencies wherever the need arises. • The 59 local branches have adopted a coherent approach to emergencies. • The technical capacity of first aid officers and staff of the NS is strengthened to tackle emergency disasters. Programme component: Food security Expected outcomes: • The volunteer supervisors and community leaders across the country are trained and retrained on food security. • The Red Cross through its integrated network of community leaders on food security (RACSA) in partnership with the MAEP has assessed food security in the country. • The RCB has established an alert warning system which allows for prevention, prompt and effective response to all situations that can lead to food insecurity and malnutrition. • The Red Cross through the RACSA and in partnership with the MAEP and the United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) has assessed malnutrition in Benin. Health Care Global Agenda Goal 2: Reduce the number of death, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies. Programme component: Community- based health programme (CBHP). Expected outcomes: • The 59 local branches have adopted a coherent approach to sanitary emergencies. • Communities have understood how to protect themselves against epidemics. • The NS has put in place a prompt and efficient mechanism against epidemics. • The epidemic cases are managed in partnership with government and other institutions. • The staff and volunteers of the Red Cross have acquired expertise knowledge in training and practice of commercial first aid in companies and at workplace to generate income for the NS. Programme component: HIV and AIDS Expected outcomes: • The communities are enlightened on HIV/AIDS and reproductive health. • 20 anti-AIDS clubs are established in 20 high schools and colleges in Benin to carry out activities against sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV and AIDS. 3 • The staff and volunteers of the NS are well informed on HIV/AIDS transmission, and prevention. Programme component: Hygiene and rehabilitation Expected outcomes: • Red Cross volunteers, staff and the communities are well informed and have the capacity to train and deliver messages in good hygiene practice and rehabilitation. • Members of the community have increased their knowledge in good health practice and good sanitary behavior. • Members of the community have increased their knowledge to prevent diarrhea, malaria, skin diseases, worm and malnutrition. Programme component: Sick bay Expected outcomes: • The two health centres in Porto-Novo and Cotonou are well equipped with skilled personnel • The Bohicon health centre is built and well equipped with skilled personnel. • Students and teachers of the centres have well understood the Red Cross and its activities. Capacity Building Global Agenda Goal 3: Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross/Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability. Expected outcomes: • The capacity of governing members at all levels is reinforced through training on good governance. • Knowledge of management policy and Red Cross staff, members and volunteers’ conduct are enhanced. • A capacity building strategy to make the Red Cross of Benin proactive during disaster is put in place. • High quality service is increased through institutional capacity building.