RATN Elects a New Board

RATN held its 10th annual General Council (GC) meeting in Lusaka, Zambia on 1st June 2011. The meeting brought together 64 participants from all RATN member and associate member institutions and partners including RATNs development partners (CIDA, SIDA and Irish AID). The GC is the highest decision making body of RATN that determines the policy and direction of the Organization and ratifies RATNs Boards decisions. The position of the GC chair is usually held by the host organization. Kara Counseling and Training Trust, who hosted the meeting nominated Mr. Ignatius Kayawe to chair the GC. The GC was officially opened by Dr. Elizabeth Chizema, Director of Technical Support Services Zambian Ministry of Health (MOH) on behalf of Zambia’s Minister of Health Mr Kapembwa Simbao. Dr. Chizema welcomed the delegates to Zambia and thanked RATN for choosing to hold the GC in Zambia. She indicated that like other countries, Zambia is yet to win the fights against HIV and AIDS. She mentioned that the effects of the HIV and AIDS epidemic have been significant in affecting the achievement of the MDGs and that as the fight shifts from emergency to long term care the need for capacity building has become ever more significant in the ESA region due to the emerging needs. She assured delegates that Zambia’s MOH was committed to supporting HIV program implementation in the region, and with support from other relevant ministries in the ESA region, capacity building can go a long way in improving and providing effective program implementation. She urged delegates to work together and requested them to place capacity building at the heart of HIV prevention programs. Following deliberations, the GC approved RATNs annual report of activities for the financial year (FY) 2010/2011, the financial report and audited accounts FY 2010/2011, the annual workplan and budget FY 2011/2012. The GC also approved the membership of SAfAIDS as a full RATN member and the appointment of Deloitte as the new RATN auditors. New RATN Board of Directors were also elected as below: - 1. Chair person Cecilia Rachier Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors 2. Vice chair Dennis Mudede Connect Zimbabwe Institute of Systemic Therapy 3. Chair Finance and Administration Committee Rangarirai Taruvinga Mananga Centre for Regional Integration and Management Development 4. Chair Programmes Committee Zachary Bigirimana Kigali Health Institute 5. Member Eliwo Akoto Centre for African Family Studies 6. Member Erastus Njeru Clinical Epidemiology Unit, University of Nairobi 7. Member Maryanne Crockett University of Manitoba 8. Member Walter Jaoko University of Nairobi After the GC, and in line with its capacity building mandate, RATN organised a two day workshop on networking for resource mobilisation. The workshop took place on the 2nd and 3rd of June, 2011 at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka Zambia and was attended by all GC delegates. The workshop’s objectives were to provide opportunity to RATN Member Institutions (MIs) to: - • Share experience on fundraising and resource mobilization • Identify opportunities for networking and support for fundraising and resource mobilization based on comparative advantages. • Reflect on common goals/interests and how networking and partnerships can result in sustainability of the network The workshop was designed to equip participants with skills required to successfully fundraise and mobilize resources locally, regionally and internationally. The workshop also provided a foundation for facilitating and enhancing MI to MI networking for resource mobilization and provided opportunity for RATN Member Institutions and development partners to interact.