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:

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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.

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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.

Principles and Values

Global Agenda Goal 4: Promoting the respect of diversity and human dignity, and reducing intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion.

Programme component: Child protection

Expected outcomes: • The child right policy is strengthened. • A policy of reintegration and reinsertion is developed. • Family empowerment is enhanced.

4 Target populations The target population of the disaster management for the period 2008 to 2009 is estimated at 366,000. The direct beneficiaries are the elderly, children, disables and refugees. There will be additional indirect beneficiaries, but based on demographic complexity and activities. The beneficiaries are from 12 administrative regions of Benin and are mostly inhabitants of rural areas who depend on food crops. Ninety percent of their income comes from agriculture. The targeted population will receive the necessary support such as tools, health and hygiene equipment, agricultural tools, and primary health services.

Disaster Management: 366,000 (44% Women and Children) Health Care: 502,000 (61% Women and Children)

Humanitarian Values The beneficiaries of the child protection project are children between six and 18 years old. They are children who face ill treatment and child labour. This phenomenon are not witnessed only in Cotonou, but also in other cities of Benin and their origin is usually traced to the less developed parts of the country (North, Zou and Mono). These situations are mainly as a result of the ineptitude of parents to play their role of providing food, education and other basic needs of life for their children because of poverty, HIV and AIDS or other difficult situations such as death of one of the parents, divorce and polygamy.

These children are vulnerable to illnesses, hunger and insecurity (psychological violence, excess power, economic exploitation, inability to cope with social life). The street children are abandoned to their fate with lack of means and support.

• 34,900 children are welcomed and accommodated • 4,000 identified children are still in some families and benefit from adequate socio-professional reinsertion (school, training centre, and apprenticeship) with a new birth certificate. • 10 selected families benefit from the income generating programme to sustain their families. • 100 students and staff of 5 schools are sensitized on child rights and possess awareness kits such as tee-shirt and leaflets.

Youth development Total number of beneficiaries: 50,000 The targeted beneficiaries are youths from 12 to 35 years old (National context). Some are already involved in the Red Cross activities through Red Cross School sections while some have no knowledge of the Red Cross. A total of 50,000 youths will be assisted in development by the end of 2009.

Organizational development The total number of beneficiaries for 2008 to 2009 is estimated at 20,000 • Recruitment and management of volunteers : 5,000 • Members of staff and governance : 50 • Mobilization of resources : 14,950

5 Capacity and experience After some years of internal crisis, the NS was able to overcome this difficult period and today a process of rebuilding has started, with the commitment of all members. December 2006, the NS held its extra ordinary general assembly which led to the election of members of the new governing board. The new governance was resolved to make the RCB a well known and respected NS supported by all its beneficiaries, the government and its partners for quality community service delivery and management transparency.

With its emblem, a strong network of 59 local branches and 12,800 volunteers, the RCB is a major actor in humanitarian services, particularly in child protection, disaster preparedness and response, social mobilization and school bay management.

Quality, accountability and learning While the conception and the implementation plans of all activities aim at high quality standards by ensuring community participation in the planning process, the NS identifies the necessity to improve on these activities during 2008 and 2009. For future need and convenience, the NS with support of some of its partners is developing its own monitoring, evaluation and reporting tool. Once the tool is fully developed, it will be used by all the departments and in all activities to monitor the impact and the effect of the activities on the targeted beneficiaries. In 2006, a Vulnerability Capacity Assessment (VCA) study was conducted in over 900 communities, and the results are incorporated in the existing activities and used to develop new initiatives for all departments. It will be appropriate in the future to conduct a new VCA in two or three years in the communities where no activity of the national society has been implemented so as to monitor the impact of the national society’s actions.

Partnerships and civil society engagement The Red Cross of Benin works closely with the Ministry of Health and local authorities to ensure full cooperation and coordination of its activities. The NS is part of the Inter- Agency Committee under the coordination of the Ministry of Health, the Committee for Civil Protection and member of different committees in Benin. Currently, it coordinates field activities’ and provides assistance to the Togolese refugees in Benin. The Society has signed a cooperation agreement with the government through the Ministry of Health.

Red Cross/Red Crescent collaboration Before its internal crisis, the RCB was firmly supported by the ICRC in the area of training and equipment for the Emergency First Aid Team (EFATs), training and equipment for volunteers who disseminated Red Cross information, provision of office equipment and salary for disaster management coordinator.

The Federation supported the NS in its organizational development process. The provided technical and financial supports to the NS in Child Protection project. The Society works with World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF in the area of social mobilization to fight epidemics. The supported the actions of the NS in mass campaign against measles, the in school bay project and the in blood transfusion as well as micro project development. The NS and some health related NGOs in Benin have signed a partnership agreement for experience sharing and collaboration in community- based health programmes.

6 The NS works in close collaboration with the Federation offices in Lagos and Dakar. The Federation recently supported the Society in recruiting a Secretary General and a finance/ administrative manager. The ICRC on its part supported in the recruitment of an Information and communication officer and a disaster management coordinator. ICRC has cooperation agreement with the NS since 1 July 2007.

Implementation and management arrangements The NS held its General Assembly and adopted its revised constitution. A national governing board made up of nine members was constituted through election. The capacity of the management team was strengthened by recruiting competent technical staff in disaster management, finance, and communication. This team under the leadership of the General Secretary assists the President in the implementation of the NS’s projects and daily administrative and running of the Society.

Monitoring and evaluation The NS has not yet produced an evaluation and monitoring tool, but it obliged itself to produce the tool during 2008-2009.

In 2005, a general audit for the NS was completed at the request of the ICRC and the Federation. The findings from the audit identified the following shortcomings: • The non-functioning of the NS’s structures; • Weaknesses in leadership and the statutes adopted in 2002; • No existing procedure on staff recruitment; • Non application of the 1996 procedure manual because it was not adopted yet; • No clear definition duties of staff and responsibilities; • Lack of a system of planning, monitoring, control and evaluation; • Difficulties encountered by the NS to recruit competent management staff for its development; • A deterioration of the image of the NS because of its internal crises; • Low impact of the headquarters in the local branches; • The dilapidation of the material resources. However, some of these problems have been resolved while the process of resolving others is on going. The General Assembly of December 2006 elected a new governing board that promised to improve the image of the Red Cross of Benin. In August 2007, a good governance workshop was organized by the Federation for the new board and management, and a plan of action drafted for the Red Cross of Benin.

Needs

2008 budget 2009 budget Programmes Total budget (CHF) (CHF) (CHF) Disaster Management 508,021 500,535 1,008,556 Health and Care 1,101,604 2,000,000 1,564,706 Capacity Building 150,802 101,070 251,872 Principle and Values 336,898 374,332 711,230 Total 2,097,326 1,439,037 3,536,364

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