IDF Africa Member Association Workshop
Summary Report
Introduction
On the 23rd – 24th July 2012, the IDF Africa Region convened a development workshop for its 33
Member Associations (MAs) from 31 countries. Held immediately before the first IDF Africa Diabetes
Congress in Arusha Tanzania, the workshop focused on developing priorities for the region for the
next triennium (2013-2015) and identifying key areas for capacity building for the region and its
MAs. The workshop had four aims:
-
Report regional progress so far
Explore roles and relationships of key stakeholders for diabetes in Africa
Identify the region’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges
Develop a regional strategy aligned to the IDF Strategic Plan 2013-2015.
Discussions during the regional workshop were framed by a number of important global initiatives
and developments. These included:
-
UN Political Declaration on NCD Prevention and Control 2011: The Political Declaration on
NCDs was adopted last September by all 193 UN Member States and provides a global
roadmap for diabetes/NCDs which can be tailored for different regions. It includes 22 actionoriented commitments that range from prevention, care, research, health systems, and
resources.
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IDF Global Diabetes Plan 2011-2021: IDF launched this ten year plan last year and the three
global objectives provide a framework for action for IDF and its Member Associations. The
objectives are to improve health outcomes for people with diabetes; prevent type 2 diabetes;
and stop discrimination against people with diabetes.
-
IDF Strategic Plan 2013-2015: With a new triennium starting in 2013, IDF is developing a new
global Strategic Plan. The draft of that Plan was also used as a guiding document.
The workshop also drew from a number of strategic initiatives from the region, including the IDF
Africa Diabetes Care Initiative (ADCI) 2010-212.
This summary of the workshop covers key points on:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The Challenge: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the Africa Region
Objectives: What we are aiming to achieve
Delivering results: How we are going to achieve our objectives
Partners and stakeholders: Who we are going to work with and influence to achieve our
objectives
5. Next Steps: Developing an IDF Africa Regional Strategy 2013-2015
The Challenge: SWOT Analysis
During the workshop, MAs conducted a SWOT analysis to explore the key challenges and
opportunities for IDF MAs and IDF Africa in responding to the diabetes epidemic. The SWOT analysis
identified the internal organisational strengths and weaknesses within the Africa Region, as well as
the external opportunities and threats that could either help or hinder IDF MAs in their efforts. This
analysis helped MAs to identify objectives later in the workshop. Below are the key points that
workshop participants identified:
IDF Africa Region Strengths
IDF Africa Region Weaknesses
A high number of Member Associations
Many dormant Member Associations
Many young members
Lack of sustained member commitment
Committed, engaged and competent staff
Existence of effective advocacy, tools
awareness campaigns
Lack of skilled and dedicated leadership
and Limited capacity due to poor infrastructure in some
Member Associations
Support of IDF and World Diabetes Foundation
Identical problems throughout the Region
Lack of human and financial resources
Poor communication and a lack of networking and
sharing experiences
Freedom to associate and partner with like-minded Poor governance & accountability (lack of constitution
organisations
and by-laws)
External Opportunities
Extensive activity on the ground on diabetes
prevention and care
National policies developed, including at the NCD
level
Health facility infrastructure available to build
upon, including diagnostic and screening networks
External Threats
An increasing number of people with diabetes in the
region
Lack of government commitment to implement and
follow-up on national policies
Lack of specialists and technical expertise for diabetes
in the region
Lack of government subsidies and funding for diabetes
in the region
Objectives: What We Are Aiming to Achieve
Workshop participants discussed the priorities for the region for the next triennium 2013-2015,
using the framework of the three objectives in the Global Diabetes Plan. These are as follows:
Improve health outcomes for all people with diabetes
-
Improve access to affordable healthcare for people with diabetes, including through advocacy and technical
assistance.
-
Promote diabetes education
-
Improve healthcare infrastructure, including the provision of essential medicines and technologies, early
detection, screening and training
-
Develop guidelines & protocols for diabetes care and management
Prevent the development of type 2 diabetes
-
Promote education of the risk factors through awareness campaigns, particularly at primary school level
-
Promote risk assessment & early diagnosis, including screening programmes
-
Encourage policies on the food and beverage industries, particularly for marketing, labelling and imports
Stop discrimination against people with diabetes
-
Encourage implementation of supportive legal and policy frameworks to combat discrimination against
people with diabetes
-
Empower people with diabetes and educate people to stop discrimination
-
Improve the public image of diabetes
-
Advocate for the implementation of the IDF Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for People with Diabetes,
with a view to developing an African version
Delivering Results: How we are going to achieve our objectives
MAs discussed the strategies needed to achieve the identified objectives in the IDF Africa Region.
MAs established five clear areas for organisational development, with accompanying action points to
drive the Region’s progress forward:
1. Communication: Four major areas were identified to strengthen communications within the
IDF Africa Region. Firstly, MAs suggested the IDF Africa Region could improve coordination by
establishing an updated directory of MAs and ensuring regular meetings and timely reporting.
Secondly, a means to improve contact between MAs was suggested by identifying an individual
within each MA to receive, disseminate and respond to information, with official contact details
and the duty to respond to information within an established timeframe (7 working days was
suggested.) Thirdly, MAs stated the need to develop a clear Communication Plan, with specific
communication strategies to guide the Region. Finally, MAs wished to identify, evaluate and
strengthen the Region’s existing communication channels, with new suggestions including a MA
and Regional websites, a diary of events and regular activity reports from all MAs.
2. Infrastructure: Participants highlighted that basic infrastructure, both for the Region and for
MAs, needs be considerably strengthened. MAs identified the need to establish a permanent
Regional office, with appropriate infrastructure and resources. It was stressed that in Africa,
facilities for diabetes need to be better equipped, renovated, and in some cases, fully
constructed. MAs recognised that advocacy efforts are required to strengthen these facilities,
and ensure that a minimum level of logistics and infrastructure is met to deliver essential
diabetes treatment and care.
3. Resources: The challenge of increasing financial resources for the Region was discussed at
length. MAs noted that regional staff and MAs needed to be trained in developing and
implementing resource mobilisation strategies – including drafting project plans and grant
applications. The role of MAs in mobilizing resources was also stressed, with fundraising
activities suggested. Participants noted the importance of strengthening public-private
partnerships as a sustainable means of acquiring resources for diabetes.
4. Governance: Various strategies were proposed to improve governance in the Region,
particularly through leadership, engaging stakeholders and developing governance structures.
MAs noted the importance of dedicated, committed and reliable leaders in driving progress on
diabetes. The need to better engage stakeholders, through participatory management,
diversifying partners and broadening the Region’s communication network, was also stressed.
Major emphasis was placed on strengthening the governing structures of the Region and its
Members. Participants suggested that a binding Regional Constitution with bylaws should be
established, and the Region should implement Performance and Financial Auditing, Peer Review
and produce an Annual Report. MAs also noted that the importance of national governance
structures, compliance with Regional requirements and the importance of maintaining the rule
of law throughout the region.
5. Transparency and Accountability: MAs identified these as two fundamental principles for the
Region. Participants continually stressed that improving transparency and accountability will be
critical for the organisational development of the IDF Africa Region.
Partners and Stakeholders: Who we are going to work with and influence to achieve our
objectives
After establishing the strategies needed to achieve the IDF Africa Region’s objectives, MAs outlined
the key actors that need to be worked with and influenced. MAs participated in an exercise to map
relevant people and organisations into different categories: ‘the heart of the organisation’; ‘who you
want to work with’; and ‘who you want to influence’. The outcome of the mapping exercise is below:
Next Steps: Developing an IDF Africa Regional Strategy 2013-2015
Based upon this summary report of the MA workshop, IDF Africa supported by the IDF Executive
Office will draft a Regional Strategy for the Africa Region for the next triennium 2013-2015. The
Strategy will be written in consultation with IDF Africa MAs, and will be completed by the end of
2012.
List of Member Associations represented during the meeting
Association Burkinabe d'Aide aux Diabétiques
Burundian Diabetes Association
Cameroon Diabetes Association
Association des Diabétiques de Côte d'Ivoire
Association Vaincre le Diabète au Congo
Eritrean National Diabetic Association
Ethiopian Diabetes Association
Gambian Diabetes Association
Ghana Diabetes Association
Association Guinéenne d'Education et d'Aide aux Diabétiques
Diabetes Kenya Association
Association Malgache contre le Diabète
Diabetes Association of Malawi
Association Malienne de Lutte contre le Diabète
Association Mauritanienne de Lutte contre le Diabète
Associacao Mocambicana dos Diabéticos
Diabetes Association of Nigeria
Diabaction-Congo
Association Rwandaise des Diabétiques
Association Sénégalaise de Soutien aux Diabétiques
Diabetes South Africa
Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa
Diabetes Association of Zanzibar
Tanzania Diabetes Association
Association Togolaise du Diabete
Uganda Diabetes Association
Zimbabwe Diabetic Association