PDF (Lessons learned in drug abuse prevention: a global review)

INTERNATIONAL
Outcomes:
COVERAGE
Number of children/youth reached: N/A
Number of peers/mediators/educators/teachers etc. trained: 35
Number of families reached: N/A
Number of institutions/associations involved: 300
A Drug Information Resource Centre was established under the auspices of the project
that produces 6 issues of the 'Drug Forum' per annum and an annual NGO Newsletter.
The Resource Centre has a collection of 111 videos, 355 books, 151 research papers
and 170 periodicals in English, French, Swahili and Amharic.
A well co-ordinated, well-managed and successful project has provided 600 NGOs
from the region with advisory services. 35 NGOs from 14 countries have received training
on project formulation and management, and 30 NGOs from 9 countries have
received grants/funds to undertake drug prevention activities at the community level.
The project also provided a ‘Joint Africa Youth Award’ to represent Eastern African
youth in an International Drug Abuse Prevention Forum held in the USA.
Lessons Learned:
● Networking NGOs enhances capacities for project implementation, monitoring,
evaluation and administration to carry out drug demand reduction: Training for
the project management cycle is provided to NGOs working in the field of demand
reduction; the knowledge and skills thus gathered enable them to carry out responsive
and effective demand reduction programmes in their communities.
● Creating an NGO network within a region minimises competition and the
unnecessary duplication of efforts: The network is a platform for information-sharing,
for the co-ordination of efforts, for discussion and for the formulation of common
approaches to address drug problems at the community level. The creation of the network
was undertaken after existing NGOs working in the field of demand reduction were
surveyed. Thereafter, names and contact details were stored in the then newly
launched UNDCP database, from where required information pertaining to these
NGOs can now be retrieved.
● Networking allows scattered NGOs to support each other and to share information:
Through the project, UNDCP has supported the activities of grass-roots organisations
and facilitated their collaboration with one another. Through formal and informal meetings,
organisations have exchanged views, shared experiences and learned a great deal as a result.
● Strengthening NGOs’ capacities enables them to carry out effective and
responsive drug abuse prevention activities: The project provided training for the
project management cycle, as well as grants to enable NGOs to gain first-hand experience
in the formulation, management, monitoring and evaluation of demand reduction
projects, and to utilise available resources to provide effective support relating to drug
abuse in the communities.
● Knowledge passed on by training can be passed on to colleagues: Through a
curriculum designed for Training of Trainers (ToT), the project beneficiaries passed on
training to their peers in counselling, treatment and rehabilitation at the community level.
84
● Networked NGOs need regular support from the centre: As many NGOs cannot
afford the costs of procuring relevant literature, UNDCP demand reduction publications,
videos, pamphlets etc., and the services of the Centre's Information Specialist,
were instrumental to providing expert advice and assistance as required.