BACKGROUND

BOFWA BACKGROUND

The Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA), was founded in September 1988, following a recommendation made at a seminar jointly held by Botswana Government, World Bank and IPPF, attended by local NGO's and Government officials.

The Association was legally registered in June 1989 as a charitable, non profit making organisation involved in providing education and creating awareness of Family Planning for a better understanding of population issues. Some of the Objectives of the Association are:-

	to promote the right of knowledge and the practice of Family Planning as a basic human right;
	to ensure the maintenance of satisfactory standards in the delivery of its services and programmes;
	to operate as the leading non-governmental organisation in Sexual and Reproductive Health in the country and to co-operate, to the fullest extent possible, with government, non-governmental organisations and international agencies in the execution of its mandate.

The Association has continued to meet the above pbjectives by operating five Youth Centres in Gaborone, Lobatse, Mochudi, Kanye and Maun. It has also run outreach programmes (seminars/workshops) in urban and rural areas, targeting the youth in and out of school, comminity leaders, men, women, politicians etc. Almost all the beneficiaries have assisted in spreading the gospel of quality life through planned parenthood principles.

The operations of the Association are carried out by staff and volunteers. The staff structure is headed by the Executive Director who manages, organises, plans and the entire programme.

The volunteer structure is headed by the Association's President and consists of the General Membership, the National Council, National Executive Committee and standing committees. The voluntees formulate policies and complement staff efforts at all levels.

Increase in volunteer members and implementation of outreach activities brought with it and establishment of branches that made the Association develop into what it is today i.e. having branches in Motlopi/Maun, Selebi Phikwe, Palapye/Serowe, Lobatse, Gaborone, Kanye Mochudi and Molepolole. The programmes in almost all the branches except in Lobatse and Gaborone are run by volunteers with the assistance of staff from the headquarters.

The Association has mainly been funded by IPPF. Other support (financial, technical, material) has also been received from other donor agencies. The United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) funded the initial capacity building project which contributed to the growth of the Association.

The Nowegian International Development Agency (NORAD), assisted by funding the Lobatse Youth Centre to start operations in 1994 to the end of 1996.

The Government of Botswana (GoB) participated in the establishment of the Gaborone Youth Centre by providing some of the equipment through USAID, Botswana Population Sector Assistance (BOTSPA) Programme and payment of rental towards the office accomodation. The IPPF Consultant (Mr. William F. Sampson) was engaged to give technical support to programmes and staff at the crucial tender stage of BOFWA. All this, including generous financial assistance of Barclays Bank of Botswana and other small enterprises and individuals has enabled the organisation to achieve the objectives it has set itself,

Although BOFWA enjoys generous moral, financial and technical support from the community in general, there is still much leeway to be covered in reaching the desired coverage of youth. More effort to increase resources and staff efficiency has to be made.

The association has thus decided to review its current operations by way of enbarking on a strategic plan which will assist in maximising its performance.

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Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA). Copyrights (c) Reserved 1999. Webmaster: Hendrei Mphathiwa: hendrei@homail.com Tel: 372710 Cell: 71306568