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this page Introduction and Background
Background to CAPA
CAPA is the ‘body of Christ’. We live to reveal Christ to the world that the world might know Him, come to Him and be cared for. We will do what Christ would have done. We will respond appropriately in line with the commands and teachings of Christ. We are, and will remain a caring Church in a hurting community. CAPA, therefore, calls upon her members to be a healing community, despite the magnitude and impact of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. Churches by their very nature and position shall continue to serve as an instrument of effective healing to those who are infected and affected by these diseases. The experience of God’s love, acceptance and support demonstrated by the Church towards her community members has been a powerful healing force for many.
The Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) is a regional Faith Based Organization that was established in 1979 in Chilema, Malawi, by the Anglican Primates of Africa. Its goal is to coordinate and articulate issues affecting the Church and communities across the region.
The Council operates in 12 Anglican Provinces namely; Burundi, Central Africa – (Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe), Congo, Indian Ocean (Madagascar, Seychelles and Mauritius), Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Southern Africa (Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa Swaziland) Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa (Ghana, Cameroon, Togo, Sierra Leone and Liberia), plus the Diocese of Egypt, in 25 African countries where the Church has its presence.
CAPA reaches out to individuals, communities and groups through her over 40 million dedicated Church members in different communities in Africa.
Administratively, CAPA is headed by a Council that is led by a Chairman, supported by executives and officers. The day to day running of the CAPA is supervised by a General Secretary. CAPA has an established tradition of training Bishops in issues of leadership and management.
CAPA is operating in a continuously changing political, economical, social, technological and ecclesiastical situation in Africa. This changing environment means that the organization has to continuously seek better and effective ways of responding to the needs of the Anglican Church in Africa. Several activities including institutionalization of policies and structures, capacity building, networking and partnership in several areas of mission and human development were undertaken by CAPA in ensuring the realization of her set objectives. Some of these socio- economic activities were in small proportions and were not well integrated into existing Church programme.
In the late 90’s CAPA was remarkably affected with the burden of HIV/AIDS and it’s related challenges in all her Provinces. These include stigmatization and discrimination, lack of adequate care and support for those infected and affected, increasing funeral services for her members and lack of adequate knowledge and understanding about HIV/AIDS and high number of widows and orphans among others.
Being a regional faith based organization in Africa, whose prime social responsibility is to care for the hurting communities, CAPA moved with compassion and love to diversify her roles to reach out to the needs of communities and individuals impoverished and affected by HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.
CAPA believes there are immense opportunities for engagement with other stakeholders within and outside the continent. CAPA has a good operating base, broad network and infrastructure. The continental mandate bestowed by all the African Primates makes it the single Anglican organization able to co-ordinate continental and global activities for the Anglican Church in Africa. CAPA has a committed and dependable team that is professional and competent with skills ranging from co-ordination, fundraising and monitoring and evaluation among others. The ability to network, across the board with like minded organizations and institutions is also a strong point for CAPA.
Challenges such as inadequate capacity and lack of sustained financial resources and donor dependency, are some of the challenges facing the effective programme implementation. Others include poor documentation and inadequate follow up of activities owing to inadequate capacity. Cultural differences in various regions and vastness of the Provinces hinder effective communication in Provinces and Dioceses.
CAPA Objectives
(i) Build the capacity of the Anglican Churches in Africa to understanding better the issues of mission and development within and outside the Anglican Communion;
(ii) Provide a forum for the Church in Africa to share experiences, consult and support each other as well as establish opportunities for collaboration and joint activities;
(iii) Identify and sustain internal and external development and partnership across the Anglican Communion and other funding agencies.
CAPA Vision Statement
“A unified and self-sustaining Anglican Communion in Africa, providing holistic ministry to her members and fulfilling God’s promise for abundant life”.
CAPA Mission Statement
CAPA exists to effectively coordinate and provide a platform for the Anglican Church in Africa to celebrate life, consult and address challenges in the continent in order to fulfil God’s promise for abundant life.
Context of CAPA HIV/AIDS Programme
The Anglican Provinces in Africa have been involved in HIV/AIDS work through their Dioceses and Parishes. CAPA has been responding to the immediate needs of their members and the degree of their involvement varies from Province to Province. The first CAPA HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan CHSP I (2001 – 2005), entitled, “Planning our Response to HIV/AIDS; A step by step guide to HIV/AIDS Planning for Anglican Communion” was as a result of the Boksburg, South Africa, HIV/AIDS workshop in August 2001. It comprised the first official and collective efforts of CAPA response to AIDS crisis in Africa. The document’s vision statement is “We, the Anglican Communion across Africa, pledge ourselves to the promise that future generations will be born and live in a world free from AIDS”.
All the Anglican Provinces in Africa were guided to develop their Strategic plan in line with the overall (CHSP I, 2001 – 2005) priority areas of focus, which were Prevention, Leadership, Pastoral Care, Counselling, Death and Dying. The level of programme implementation in Provinces varies in proportion and context. Findings from the desk review report of the CHSP I from different CAPA Provinces show a remarkable attainment of the policy and structural objectives of the CHSP I in all the 12 Anglican Provinces of Africa and the Diocese of Egypt. One or two Provinces such as Sudan are yet to commence effective implementation of their plan due to many years of war and political unrest. CAPA will strengthen neighbouring Provinces to support Sudan. Experiences from other Provinces like Nigeria (West), Southern Africa (South), Uganda (East) and Zambia (Central Africa) and others will continue to be points of reference with regards to experiences gained.
The Provinces vary in context because each country is unique. The political, socio-economic, social-cultural, language and technological advancement all influence the context of the Provinces. The Province’s current programme interventions are guided by the context of the country(s) in each Province. It is imperative to note that CAPA HIV/AIDS programme experience in Provinces thus far has been an integrated one; they aligned their responses with countries national responses and plan. The Provincial plans were also committed to the “Three Ones” principles, which are; “one agreed national framework, one agreed national AIDS coordinating authority and one agreed country level monitoring and evaluation system”. The CHSP I provided a platform that institutionalized Provincial and Diocesan HIV/AIDS Policies and strategies as from 2002-2004. It ensures that all Provinces, Dioceses and Parishes respond to the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. It also supports and contributes to the regional and national efforts to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS. It also provides a learning ground for interested communities within and outside the Anglican Communion Provinces in Africa.
Since our Saviour Jesus Christ was a teacher and a healer who cared for the sick and hurting, this responsibility has been passed on to His Church. CAPA through its various institutions and networks have continued to fulfil this commission. The epidemic of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria has raised new challenges in the face of limited resources and understanding. The Anglican Provinces in Africa appreciates its role in International, Regional and National response against these epidemics, but also accepts her limitation presently. Despite these challenges, CAPA will continue to develop effective and integrated programmes that will prevent and control the spread of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria in her communities using cost-effective, practical, socially acceptable strategies that are in agreement with our faith, call and commission in implementing this second 5-year integrated plan CHSP II (2007-2011).
CAPA cannot do this alone. CAPA recognises that they are sustained by the love of God and emboldened by the Holy Spirit. They accept the responsibility of leadership within the Anglican Communion in Africa, and invites the wider community into creating opportunities and life-giving partnership. It will partner with International, Regional and National bodies that share similar vision and goal; thereby leveraging resource and seizing opportunities to strengthen the response of the Anglican Provinces of Africa in steaming the tide of these triple epidemics.
Rationale for Programme Integration
HIV/AIDS , TB and Malaria are preventable and treatable infections. CAPA shares the pain of all who suffer as a result these infections. Faced with this crisis, CAPA is responding to God’s call to be transformed by the renewal of their minds and respond to the emerging epidemics with compassion, love and care.
HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria infections are the three most leading causes of death in Africa. The diseases are associated with poverty and make people vulnerable to further deprivation. The infections have taken greatest toll on young and most productive generations of the Church and the wider community undermining Africa’s development. The re emergence of TB and Malaria infections with HIV, has generated another level of burden to families, communities and nations. Individuals who are infected with HIV often get sick and die earlier due to the complications of TB, Malaria or related opportunistic infections, especially children and pregnant women.
The Church is uniquely positioned with the ability to reach out to communities through her organized network and constituencies. CAPA through her structure is able to reach over 40 million regular and faithful members of the Church in Africa through different gatherings that are routinely conducted on daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis using her vast human resource (skilled and unskilled Priest and Volunteers) and institutions. This niche therefore, affords CAPA the opportunities to educate, care, support and express God’s love to individuals and communities that are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.
By mid 2004, CAPA leaders met and agreed that Tuberculosis and Malaria component should be integrated into the existing HIV/AIDS programme. In order to reduce the lethal consequences of these triple infections, prevention, care and treatment programmes of the three diseases must mutually reinforce each other. Furthermore, CAPA stakeholders reviewed the objectives and goal of the CHSP I (2001- 2005), which shows that 90% of the set plan has been achieved (See CAPA HIV/AIDS Programme Desk Review Report, 2001-2005).
This has resulted in the development of the Second 5 year CHSP II (2007 – 2011), whose goal is to strengthen programme coordination and improve the quality of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria service delivery in Churches and communities.
Approaches Used to Develop the Strategic Plan
The development of this strategic plan was first initiated by CAPA Archbishops in 2004 and 2006. It was followed by a technical workshop for Provincial HIV/AIDS Coordinators to develop the framework in 2006. The initial workshop was funded by Action Aid International. To complete the process, additional technical and resource was mobilized from AAI, CA and EHAIA to intensify the effort that led to the conclusion of this strategic plan. This document also draws from the Provincial HIV/AIDS and related activities reports (CAPA HIV/AIDS Programme Desk Review Report) and other relevant resources. Series of draft were widely disseminated to Church stakeholders, Provincial Coordinators, CAPA HIVAIDS Board members and partners for comments. Some FBO and CSO participated in the process as well. The final document was presented to the CAPA Primates for their approval, which was given.
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