Celebrating 18 years of UNASO’s Existence

Introduction

This year 2014, the Uganda Network of AIDS Service Organisations (UNASO), marks 18 years of existence. This period has seen UNASO go through various strategic planning cycles that have yielded remarkable achievements, in the coordination of civil society response to HIV in Uganda.

Founded in 1996, as an umbrella organization, UNASO exists to provide coordination, representation and networking among civil society AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs); and to provide technical assistance to ASOs in HIV&AIDS programming for enhanced quality service delivery.  These organizations comprise of Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and other non state actors who respond to the needs of the people both infected and affected by HIV and AIDS in Uganda.

Over this period of existence, UNASO has inevitably evolved in response to the dynamics in the operating environment, but has remained consistent with her mandate and focus in the four core strategic areas including: Institutional Capacity development, Promotion of Strategic Information and Knowledge Management; Advocacy and Representation of ASOs; and Networking and Partnership Building.  The account below highlights the key achievements that UNASO has registered over the years in above areas.

Institutional Capacity Development

At inception, one of the key areas of focus for UNASO was the need to strengthen the institutional capacity of ASOs so that they are able to provide quality HIV&AIDS services. To effectively execute this mandate, UNASO inevitably had to build the institutional capacity for both; the Secretariat and her member organisations.