EAPASA For Africa

1. Executive Summary:

 

Many companies are taking their products and businesses into Africa as a continent, only to realise that they do not have sufficient resources and infra-structure to support the needs of the company and their staff in those countries. Workplace services in African countries – in the context of wellness and Employee Assistance Programmes – are also lacking support and EAP education to practicing psychologists, social workers and other related professions.

The EAP FOR AFRICA project was commissioned by Chevron (a progressive employer) as an attempt to address the above needs and to challenge other multinationals to sponsor the growth of EAPs into Africa.

This document outlines the history of the EAP for Africa project which is managed by the EAPA-SA board. The document will further outline the projects/countries where the EAP FOR AFRICA project was launched as well as the projects to follow.  Details on the project team members will be provided as well as an indication of such members’ tasks.  Information will be shared on lessons learnt and the way in which challenges encountered, were managed. A motivation in favour of increased financial and other support will be formulated as well as the strategy to involve other sponsors along the way and how such corporates will be approached in order to meet the goal of increased financial assistance.

2. Overview of EAP for Africa

• Origins of the project

The EAP FOR AFRICA PROJECT was launched with the creation of the EAP for Africa Workgroup in April 2010 – after Chevron voiced their need for EAPs to be expanded into African countries. The workgroup was created under the auspices of the EAPA-SA Board, after the Board at the time agreed in principle to take up the challenge of committing itself to the mentioned vision, which resulted in an initial payment by Chevron to EAPA-SA equal to US$ 7000, as seed money for the project.  A similar amount was donated to the workgroup on an annual basis.

• Brief or mandate given at the outset by the donor or as developed by the committee
  • Chevron’s expectations regarding ‘Expanding the EAP into Africa’
  • Identification of an existing EAP structure to lead the project
  • Identification of other role-players, i.e. businesses with interests in Africa, to become partners in the envisaged project.

• Current team members of the EAP FOR AFRICA Committee

The committee is made up of EAPA-SA Board members, EAP service providers and companies taking business into Africa. The intention is to use current links in Africa in order to build a good network of practitioners in each country. Having team members that travel into Africa for own business reasons, already assists with keeping the costs of outreach and training low.

NAME	CONTACT DETAILS
Mr Tinyiko Chabalala	Email: ChabalalaTG@ledet.gov.za Cell: +2782 330 3957
Mr Tshifhiwa Mamaila	E-Mail: tmyourpurpose@gmail.com Cell: +2784 513 8474
Prof.Lourie Terblanche	E-Mail: lourie@iburst.co.za Cell: +2782 768 1321
Mr Zaheer  Hammersley	E-Mail: zhammersley@carewaysgroup.com
Jeanette Theron	E-Mail: Jeanette.Theron@eoh.co.za tel: +27 011 554 1900 | fax: +086 646 4349 | cell: +27 78 120 5125
Ms Thiloshni Govender	E-Mail: thiloshni18@gmail.com Cell: +27 83 378 0126
Marion Borcherds	E-Mail: Marion.Borcherds@transnet.net Cell:  +27 97 505 7260
André  Beugger	E-mail: andbel@telkomsa.net Fax: 086 536 3509 Cell: 082 565 8118
Ms Radhi Vandayar/ Ramona Kandasamy	E-mail: rvandayar@icas.co.za Cell: +27 72 459 4508
	E-mail: rkandasamy@icas.co.za Cell: 071 100 3932
Mr Joe Makasane	E-mail: joe@fscogta.gov.za Cell: +2779 212 0584
Ms Bernadette Smith Project link to the sponsor	E-Mail: BMSmith@chevron.com

A brief summary of the reference documents created and applied as the constitution and operational guidelines and which drive the roll-out is as follows:

• The project protocol documents
• The presentation templates
• The data storage process
• Claim forms
• Budgets
• The survey

 

3. List of the identified project countries

3.1 Status and Progress of the Project

EAPA-SA is proud to mention that quite a number of project have been launched in the following African countries:

COUNTRY	PROGRESS
Botswana	The EAP for Africa project was launched in Botswana on 24 February 2011by Ms Radhi Vandayar, which resulted in the creation of a local EAP/Wellness interest group, based in Gaborone.  The committee followed up with legal consultants in the country in 2012 to see how they can operate adequately within the laws of the country and then chose to affiliate themselves with the SA branch. The survey was then sent to the main contact in June 2013 to see what the needs in country were. However the main contact had to suddenly leave the country for Canada and now the project needs reviving with the person taking it over. VonileTladi: vonile@gowellsolutions.com
Namibia:	The EAP for Africa project was launched in Namibia in October 2011 by Prof Lourie Terblanche, which resulted in the creation of a local EAP/Wellness interest group, based in Windhoek.Two follow-up visits were made – at no costs to the EAP for Africa Work Group – to assist the steering committee in the functioning of the structure and the launching of the research project. Contact Person in Namibia: Wilson Hishono
Nigeria	The EAP for Africa project was launched in Nigeria in July 2012 by Ms Radhi Vandayar and Ms Bernadette Smith (Chevron) which resulted in the creation of a local EAP/Wellness interest group, based in Lagos.  The launch was done through a mini-conference and was followed by another conference held in Nigeria in 2013. Nwaogu, Marcellinus : NWMN@chevron.com
Malawi	The EAP for Africa project was launched in Malawi in September 2012 by Prof Lourie Terblanche, which resulted in the creation of a local EAP/Wellness interest group, based in Blantyre. A follow-up session is planned for 28 November 2014 where the contact person, Mr Maclean Vokhiwa will repeat the initial information sharing session, but this time focused on senior executives of different companies and state department. Contact person:  Mr Maclean Vokhiwa.  Email:   mvokhiwa@gmail.com
Swaziland	The EAP for Africa project was launched in Swaziland in November 2012 by Mr Tshifhiwa Mamaila.
Tanzania	An Introductory session for The EAP for Africa project was launched in Tanzania in August 2013 by Mr Tshifhiwa Mamaila.

 

 

3.2 New African Countries in the list for 2014

EAPA-SA has received a number of requests from African countries to assist in the launch of EAPs structure, the following countries have been identified for 2014:

COUNTRY	Project leader	STATUS
Ghana	Ms Radhi Vandayar	EAP for Africa project has identified link into Ghana through Rejoice M. Norgbey who is an HR officer at the Regional Maritime University. E-Mail: remanorg@gmail.com P. O. Box GP 1115, Accra Cell: +233(0)244656636 / 208827699 Official Email: hr@rmu.edu.gh
Kenya	Mr Tinyiko Chabalala	In Kenya the project has identified Cecilia Rachier who is EAPA professional and a student EAPA member, a Workplace Options provider and ICAS affiliate was referred to EAPA-SA through EAP International.Ceciliar@kapc.or.ke
Lesotho	Mr André Beugger	The link came through André Beugger, the two contacts (Lipolelo and Matlokotsi) were met during the EAP short course training programme at the UP. Numerous e-mails were sent to the two practitioners; they have responded to confirm availability to assist in the project but no real action has come from their side. lipolelokhabele@gmail.com matlokotsikabi@gmail.com
Mozambique	Mrs Jeanette Theron	Mrs Jeanette Theron offered to assist through EOH to establish link in the Mozambique
Zimbabwe		Radhi Vandayar offered to assist through ICAS to establish link in the Zimbabwe.
Uganda	Mr Tshifhiwa Mamaila	Contact person is Margaret Nalyaali Executive Director of the Apple Hidden Treasure International Counselling – Uganda. The session will take place on the 05th of September 2014 for 30 delegates

 

Although EAP FOR AFRICA committee set target to implement projects, some of the projects could not materialise due tolack of funding andEbola breakout in some parts of the African countries.

 

• Financial summary report covering

The table below provide the overall funds report since the project was launched.

EAP For Africa Financial Management Account 2011-2013
Income:
Date	Description	Amount in Dollars			Amount in ZAR
	Initial Chevron Donation (2009):	$7 500.00			R 54 643.29
	Additional Chevron Donation (2010):	$7 000.00			R 46 990.00
	Additional Chevron Donation (2011):	$7 000.00			R 53 803.43
05/09/2011	Income from breakfast (2011):				R 9 149.00
	Additional Chevron Donation (2012):	$1 000.00			R 10 000.00
	Additional Chevron Donation (2013):	$1 000.00			R 10 184.40
	Total Income	$ 23 500.00			R 184 770.12
Expenditure :
Date	Description			Amounts in ZAR
23/02/2010	EAP For Africa27016 (EAPA-SA27016)			R                         2 716.50
04/03/2010	Securing Venue for EAP for Africa- Breakfast session Randburg			R                        6 962.50
29/03/2010	Final payment of Venue for EAP for Africa- Breakfast session Randburg			R                        6 962.50
29/03/2010	Botswana printing			R                        2 675.00
04-2010	EAP for Africa Event (April 2010) – Enov8			R                        8 148.00
05-03-2010	Travel Claim Glen (2010-03-05)			R                           660.24
04-04-2010	Travel Claim Glen (2010-04-04)			R                           176.40
19-11-2010	Travel Claim Prof Terblanche (2010-11-19)			R                           245.00
04-02-2011	Travel Claim Glen (2011-02-04)			R                           343.00
13-10-2011	Namibia 13 – 14 October 2011
	Flight Bookings			R                        2 804.00
	Accommodation 2 Nights			R                           960.00
	Car rental2 days Windhoek			R                           980.00
	Catering 25 people x2 days			R                        6 000.00
	venue			R                           300.00
07-12-2011	Accommodation for Mr Mamaila EAPA for Africa meeting in Randburg (2011-12-7)			R                           720.00
08-12-2011	Catering Windhoek Follow-up meeting			R                           100.00
26-01-2011	Accommodation for Mr Mamaila to attend EAP for Africa meeting in Johannesburg (2011-01-26)			R                           713.63
17-09-2012	EAP for Africa Malawi :
	Transport: MVokhiwa			R                           378.38
	Hotel accommodation			R                        4 147.01
	Catering 25 people			R                        2 162.16
	Food OR Tambo			R                             32.45
	Gautrain Hatfield–OR Tambo			R                           100.00
	Consumer electric adapter for projector			R                             35.00
	Bottled water			R                             51.22
	Venue Old Mutual			R                        1 102.03
	Flight bookings			R                        7 012.00
	Food Malawi			R                           685.54
	Photocopies and print of questionnaires			R                            58. 38
26-05/2012	EAP for Africa Swaziland:
	Venue (inclusive of Catering)			R                        7 347.75
28 – 30 May 2012	EAP For Africa Swaziland:R17 995.20
28/05/2012	Accommodation (Corporate  rate B&B)			R                           648.00
29/05/2012	Accommodation (Corporate  rate B&B)			R                           648.00
30/05/2012	Accommodation (Corporate  rate B&B)			R                           648.00
28/05/2012	Dinner and soft drinks			R                           182.40
29/05/2014	Dinner and soft drinks			R                           182.40
30/05/2014	Dinner and soft drinks			R                           182.40
	Finger food and soft  drinks			R                        4 987.50
	Finger food and soft  drinks			R                        4 987.50
	Tea and scones			R                        2 194.50
	Tea and scones			R                        2 194.50
	Conference room			R                           570.00
	Conference room			R                           570.00
29/30-06-2012	EAP for Africa Swaziland (Return Flight)			R                        2 182.50
	Printing of Documents for Botswana			R                        1 317.54
	Introductory Session in Tanzania  (R 15 022.00):
	Air-Flight Tanzania			R                        8 322.00
	Accommodation Tanzania			R                        3 450.00
	Catering Tanzania			R                        3 250.00
	Payment to Brenda Blair design questionnaire (Available)			R                        6 956.00
	Total Payments			R                   108 051. 93
	Balance			R 76 718.19

 

Due to  a need for additional funding, EAPASA Board has appointed a task team member (Marion Borcherds) to look at sponsorship by other corporates in SA that are doing business in Africa.The companies the task team will be approaching will be companies with known business interests in Africa already:

• Standard Bank
• Nedbank
• ABSA/Barclays
• Multichoice
• Shell
• Total
• BP
• Cummins
• Alex Forbes
• Clicks
• Mother to Mothers
• Aveng
• Murray and Roberts
• Group 5
• MTN
• Vodacom
• Old Mutual
• Engen

The above is to just to name a few. This list will grow in time.

The South African EAP Service Providers in Africa is listed hereunder:

• ICAS
• EOH
• Careways
• AON
• Workplace options.

 

• Lessons learned and on-going M& E components:

The workshops have been successful when it is driven by an in-country person with passion for EAPs and Wellness service rendering

Projects into different countries on the content had to be standardised in order to ensure that each project leader covers the same information – for consistency. The initial contents were developed by Miss R Vandayar, Mrs Tracy Harper and Prof Lourie Terblanche.   Prof Terblanche then developed protocols and forms to better manage the administration of the projects in different countries.

The survey tool (questionnaire) was designed by Brenda Blair as she had experience in working with EAPA international as well as working experience in Africa and China. However the surveys in different countries had not been successful, following a few visits. The length of the questionnaire and relevance of questions had been in question by participants, board members and the EAP FOR Africa team. The capturing and analysis also could not be done in a timely manner thereby making the information unreliable and out-dated. EAPA-SA has revised the questionnaire and they will rework the process of executing thesurvey in different countries in future.

Measurement and reporting for EAP for Africa:

• A project budget and project plan is to be submitted before a trip.
• Progress report is submitted following a completion of trip for records and closing off the financials for the project.
• A regular feedback cycle that will be implemented for feedback to the sponsors, the task team and the EAPA-SA Board.
• Template periodic for feedback reports is being designed for easy reporting and reference.

 

5. Challenges

The current challenges faced by EAP for Africa project is funding. The project funding has proven to be inadequate given the number of new African countries identified and which are ready to launch EAP. The in-country EAP practitioners also struggle to get funding locally for the training venues and catering.

In-country coordination is also difficult due to the vast areas to travel to get to the training workshop in country. The workshops are usually held in the capital of the country. Sustainable follow ups with the countries has also been a challenge as there are changes in the EAP task team identified in country so to keep the momentum going once we have gotten the in country EAPs excited.

There is a need for continuous support to the leader, group and structure created locally to each country.  Visits by the project leaders are not feasible due to financial constraints.  Therefore, continued contact and guidance through emails and other affordable ways of communication, are promoted by the EAP FOR AFRICA Task group.

 

6. Conclusions and Forward direction

The foundation phase which looked at piloting a few countries where information sharing sessions and survey were to be tested is now completed.  Some knowledge and experiences had been gained on dealing with the different countries and testing what methods and models to be applied to ensure growth in the EAP footprint into the continent. Countries are different and require the adaptation to the model to suit the needs of that EAP population. For example Nigeria had a full conference of EAP practitioners, doctors, lawyers and other professionals. Nigeria also chose to affiliate with EAPA International/Incorporate rather than EAPA-SA. However the SADAC countries still feel a strong cultural affiliation to SA and prefer to affiliate to EAPA-SA to allow growth slowly but sustainably.  Expansion of the EAP FOR AFRICA for proceeds into the other countries as part of phase 1 (foundation: spreading the word about EAP and EAPA-SA). Focus will be expanded to provide for the next phase of doing the survey to explore the needs of the EAP Practitioners in different countries and ways to meet their needs. With more sponsorship, it will be possible to grow this project to achieve the goals of reaching out to all countries in Africa to establish EAP structures and possible recruitment of such structures for EAPA-SA or EAPA Inc.

MULTINATIONALS

• Have a pool of professsionals to source services from.
• Standards would be assured
• Issues of ethics would be dealt with through the association.
• This project would allow forsome type of regulation for the industry in country and thus have benefits for multi-nationals i this way.
• Company will be listed at supporting the project-developmental work.
• Exhibition during the annual conference.
• Company name and logo will be displayed on the EAPASA website

PROFESSIONALS

• Would adhere to a code of ethics and would have to adopt industry standards, EAPASA or EAPA-Inc
• Training would Increase have increased knowledge and skills.
• An association will allow for regulation of the profession in country towards increasing professionalization as  was the journey in SA.

 

• Presence in Africa strengthens EAPASA
• Developmental project for EAPASA increasingly professionalizes the organisation.