Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion

Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion (RNGOF on HIV/AIDS & HP)- a national network of 127 NGOs created in 1999 and committed to the promotion, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of activities of NGOs engaged in the fight of HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion as well as Capacity building, networking and advocacy for the NGO members involved in all HIV/AIDS programs and policy development for better living conditions of most affected communities. RNGOF on HIV/AIDS & HP members organizations intervene in different areas: Prevention, Care and Treatment, Impact mitigation, Nutrition and Research RNGOF on HIV/AIDS & HP members’ target groups: People living with HIV/AIDS,, Adolescents, young and vulnerable children, Key population (FSWs&MSM), Prisoners, Women at risk, Young girls in and out of schools, People who use drugs(PWUDs) and People who inject with drugs ( PWIDs), Migrants, mobile workers and refugees, Old population, General population With the support from the Rwanda Ministry of Health (MOH), and Development partners, The Umbrella has been able to advocate for members and affected communities to benefit from the Rwanda Global Fund since 2011 to date. The MOH/Global fund supports NGOs and CBOs intervening in HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Treatment & Impact Mitigation. RNGOF on HIV/AIDs and HP’s main role was to coordinate their interventions and monitoring their activities as well as the impact on beneficiaries. Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion is a member of The East African National Networks on HIV/AIDs Organizations (EANNASO) and participated in the regional consultative meetings that led to the establishment of the East African Community HIV&AIDS Prevention and Management Bill that was passed by the East African Legislative Assembly and eventually assented into Law by all EAC Heads of States. The Law also protects people living with HIV on their right to access balanced feeding to uplift their nutritional standards. RNGOF on HIV/AIDS & HP is also a member of the regional task force chaired by EANNASO to contribute to the EAC Sexual Reproductive Health Bill, providing inputs and eventually tracing its ascent into law. The law further protects infant right to proper growth with appropriate nutrition. The national umbrella also coordinates, builds capacity and advocates for member organizations intervening in sexual reproductive health and nutrition. RNGOF members also focuses on activities with about 20 NGO members providing cows, goats, pigs, chicken, and Rabbits as well as agricultural support to beneficiary cooperatives involved in integrated kitchen gardens including fruits and vegetables, Mushroom growing and consumption. Our NGO members have also been promoting fish farming in various districts in the country aimed at fighting malnutrition. Rwanda NGOs Forum has strong partnership with Rwanda Governance Board and one UN in implementation of Capacity building and Advocacy projects for its members. The Forum in Partnership with the Rwanda Civil Society Platform has also been involved in strong CSOs advocacy for added value to local food industries in terms of fortified products including maize flour. It is that respect that the forum is fully committed to address the problem of Stunting among children in Rwanda and scale up the fight against malnutrition.