Mr Winfield Tannis-Abbott, Chair, Board of Directors, Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (CRN+) spoke with the editor of PANCAP.org on new plans for the organisation.

‘Following our recently concluded Board Meeting – Strategic Planning, at which the new membership of an Interim Board was selected, it was evident that we need a strategic shift in how we manage our organisation. As well as how we operate on a day to day basis, how we communicate and associate with our affiliate networks; how we advocate for and on behalf of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) across the region and most importantly, how we mobilise necessary resources to continue our work and support ‘ending AIDS by 2030’. As the authentic voice for PLHIV in the Caribbean, we must ‘step up’ our leadership role, ensuring that all rights, health and dignity of PLHIV, as well as those of our partners and families, are respected during this social change of ending AIDS by 2030.

As we move forward, we recognise that ‘doing more of the same is not enough’. With the changes in the global, regional and national environments over the last 5 years, it has become necessary for CRN+ to revisit its strategic direction in order to maximise its potential, continue to grow and to achieve sustainability. This means that CRN+ will need to re-focus its energies and resources in the future as it continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of PLHIV in the Caribbean and sustain a vibrant organisation.

As the Interim Board of Directors commences implementation over the next year, we will focus on four (4) strategic priorities:

Priority Area 1. Governance and Leadership: We need to be able to strengthen our governance and leadership in order to promote positive and sustainable growth, not only for the CRN+ Secretariat but also for our affiliates. Working closely with our Technical Advisory Group and our technical partners will be vital for our survival and success.

Priority Area 2. Empowerment of People Living with HIV: We have to do our best to empower not only our members but persons living with HIV in the Caribbean Region. Finding ways for them to live longer and with dignity and improve the quality of their lives.

Priority Area 3. Partnership and Resource Mobilisation: This speaks for itself. Partnership with national, regional and international organisations continues to be an integral role if we are to fulfil our mandate. CRN+ will continue to strengthen its partnerships at the national, regional and international levels. This will be essential in assisting the organisation to move forward. Working with the development and funding partners, CRN+ will refine its resource mobilisation strategy with a focus on cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Efforts will be made to look for new and non-traditional sources of funding.

Priority Area 4. Evidence and Lessons Learnt for Scaling Up Programmes: We must ensure that mechanisms exist to document the voices and experiences of PLHIV and that PLHIV advocacy messaging results in positive change at the international, regional and national levels. Implementation of relevant programmes will be scaled-up, based on evidence and lessons learnt. These will contribute to the sustainability of the HIV response in the Caribbean.

We look forward to your support as we commence a new chapter of CRN+’.