Association Nationale des Jeunes Femmes Actives pour la Solidarité (ANJFAS) was founded by young women living with HIV in the Central African Republic (CAR) with the mission of fighting against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Its objective is to foster a sense of solidarity and mutual support among HIV-positive women and to enhance their living conditions in CAR. ANJFAS’s activities include primary and secondary HIV prevention; medical, psychosocial, and nutritional support; combating stigmatization and discrimination; and advocating for the human rights of people living with HIV.

ANJFAS is using Global Financing Facility (GFF) funding to mobilize community leaders and health officials with the goal of enhancing resource allocation in sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition (SRMNCAH-N) policies and programs. ANJFAS trained 20 observers to monitor 37 urban health centers providing SRMNCAH-N services and identify gaps in qualified personnel and resources in Bangui, Bimbo and Bégoua.

In order to track resource allocations for SRMNCAH-N, ANJFAS developed a community budget monitoring tool that equips volunteer observers to monitor service quality and funding flows at health facilities and advocate for changes in the utilization of allocated funds. Volunteer-led monitoring revealed that — although almost all targeted health facilities had recently undergone rehabilitation —most facilities struggled with inadequate resource management and a lack of qualified personnel. A majority of health facilities reviewed by the project had also faced funding cuts that had begun as early as the first quarter of 2022. In certain centers, the free provision of SRMNCAH-N services had been suspended and some services were discontinued entirely due to the shortage of adequate human and financial resources. ANJFAS partnered with community leaders, local authorities and medical and health services managers to improve resource management. In Health Districts 2 and 3 of Bangui, high-level advocacy resulted in agreements between ANJFAS and the government to allow observers unrestricted access to health facilities. ANJFAS is continuing to support community monitoring activities and is working to expand its activities to include more health facilities in new regions.