Vision: Vision: Partner Partner of choice of choice in alleviating in alleviating human human suffering suffering in Swaziland in Swaziland i Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Baphalali demonstrates to a drought hit Lavumisa, Etjeni Chiefdom Community member on how to practice conservation agriculture (CA) using a seed driller. Photographer: BERCS Communications Department Mission: Saving lives, changing minds Mission: Saving lives, changing minds ii TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................... II PRESIDENT’S REMARKS ................................................................................................................................ 1 SECRETARY GENERAL’S SUMMARY ......................................................................................................... 4 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 5 ACHIEVEMENTS ............................................................................................................................................... 5 1.0 HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES ................................................................................................... 5 1.1 PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: MOTHER, INFANT, CHILD HEALTH, CURATIVE, AND HIV/TB . 5 2.0 FIRST AID ............................................................................................................................................... 7 3.0 DISASTER MANAGEMENT ....................................................................................................................... 9 3.1 FIRE AND WINDSTORMS .......................................................................................................................... 9 3.2 WINDSTORM INCIDENCES ............................................................................................................... 9 3.3 STRENGTHENING OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION (DRR) COMMITTEES AT CHIEFDOM LEVEL ......................................................................................................................................... 11 3.4 RESTORING FAMILY LINKS ........................................................................................................... 11 3.5 CYCLONE IDAI ................................................................................................................................... 12 3.5.1 NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY (NDMA) FOOD DISTRIBUTION ........... 13 COMMUNITY DIALOGUES ON BIOSAFETY AND GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS ..... 14 4.0 ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................. 14 4.1 BRANCHES .................................................................................................................................................. 14 4.5 CASH TRANSFERS WORKSHOP ............................................................................................................ 16 4.6 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY WORKSHOP ....................................... 16 4.7 BRANCH ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY ASSESSMENT (BOCA) ......................................... 16 5.0. CORPORATE COMMUNICATION - INFORMATION DISSEMINATION ...................................... 18 5.1 DISSEMINATION TO THE PUBLIC ....................................................................................................... 18 5.2 WORLD RED CROSS DAY COMMEMORATION ................................................................................ 18 6. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................... 18 PRESIDENT’S REMARKS It is my greatest honour and privilege that I, on behalf of the National Executive Committee, may present highlights of achievements made by the National Society in the year 2018/19 to the respected General Assembly. I feel very proud to be associated with Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society’s volunteers, staff and the Board; hard working people, who are committed to the work and mandate of the National Society, focusing at saving lives and changing minds of the people in our different communities. I’m happy that as we discharge our services to the public, we uphold to the seven Fundamental Principles which always guide the way we do things as Red Cross. The humanitarian sector is faced with a number of challenges which include drought, HIV/AIDS, poor performing economies and the dwindling donor support. These challenges have greatly influenced our work as National Society. Looking at how we discharge our services to the public, one has no doubt that the Red Cross volunteers play a pivotal role in ensuring the effectiveness of the NS. However, I’m very much concern about the reduction in the number of volunteers in the branches. I appeal to all of you that we go out and recruit more volunteers and also bring back the true volunteering spirit in all our volunteers. May I take this time to sincerely thank the Board members for their commitment and the tremendous work they have done not only in the year 2018/19, but ever since we got into the office in 2016. As we shall be having elections today, some of them will not be part of the Board going forward, but I want to extend my profound appreciation to the entire Board for the sterling job they have done in ensuring the National Society performs to its optimum and remain a partner of choice. The achievements that the National Society is boasting about today would not have been realized had it not for the support the NS receive from Partners including the Government of kingdom of Eswatini and the guidance from IFRC, ICRC and the entire Red Cross Movement, particularly Finnish Red Cross. The NS has also enjoyed the collaboration we have had with other organizations like NDMA. Such collaboration has a potential for more efficient and effective handling of disaster situations. It is also noted that local volunteers, who understand local conditions better, can deal with disasters in the locality more effectively than anybody else. On that note one is happy that the NS is strengthening communities through Disaster Risk Reduction committees to be better prepared for disasters. May I again request the entire National Society, the Divisions in particular to start widening the network of young people to join the National Society and be part of first responders in humanitarian needs. Even in 2018 /19, the National Society worked very hard and under challenging conditions but managed to achieve quite a lot which include the following: 2 1. Courtesy call to the Deputy Prime Minister In September 2018, the National Society was able to pay a courtesy to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini. The purpose of the courtesy call was to strengthen the relationship that exist between the NS and Government and also to thank the DPM for the support provided to the NS during his term in the office. The courtesy call was done at a time when the election process for a new Government had already begun. The NS was represented by the President and representatives from the Board. 2. Development of National Society Documents The Board has been able to develop an Anti-Fraud and Corruption policy which adds to the several policies that governs the National Society. The National Society is still in the process of reviewing the BSRCS Act, currently with the Legal Advisor in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office. 3. Leadership Forum in Togo The National Society attended a three days leadership forum which was held in Lomé (Togo) in March 2019. This was mainly training on leadership and it was facilitated by the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) in collaboration with Eco bank. This training had been organized for all African National Societies, where they were represented by their Presidents, Youth Representatives and Secretary Generals. Baphalali also had their three representatives attending the training. Main issues discussed include: different styles of leadership, involving women and youth in leadership, integrity in leadership, and qualities of a good leader with emphasis on focus, accountability, and communication. 4. Partnership of Red Cross Societies (SAPRCS) meetings The President and the Secretary General were able to attend two Southern Africa Partnership Red Cross Societies (SAPRCS) meetings in Pretoria (South Africa) and in Malawi where the 10 National Societies within Southern Africa meet to discuss progress and other movement issues. The BERCS Secretary General was also able to attend a Shared Leadership Group meeting which was held in Pretoria, in April 2018. 5. Governance Meetings The Board had a total of five Board meetings and the attendance was very good in all the meetings. The Board Sub-committees also held their meetings accordingly. These are the meetings where the Board discuss policy issues and also monitor progress. The 5 Divisions also held their Divisional Committee meetings as per the plan. 3 6. Changes in the Name and Financial year of Baphalali Following that the name of the country was changed from Swaziland to Eswatini, the General Assembly (GA) in September 2018 also decided to change the name of the national society from Baphalali Swaziland Red Cross Society (BSRCS) to Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society (BERCS). On another