5th Sahara Conference

Skills Building Workshop sponsored by

the UNDP, 30 November 2009

5th Sahara Conference

Skills Building Workshop sponsored by

the UNDP, 30 November 2009Developing an evidence base on the vulnerabilities of

MSM & Gays in ESA: RESEARCH IN THE SERVICE OF

ADVOCACY FOR HIV & AIDS POLICY AND PROGRAMMING

Vasu Reddy (Human Sciences Research Council), Ian Swartz

(Open Society Institute of Southern Africa), Theo Sandfort

(Columbia University, New York)

AimAimAim

• To outline a brief

context and process

involved in this

project and why we

are all here

Some Context: Silence to Action?Some Context: Silence to Action?Some Context: Silence to Action?• Contexts of criminalisation,

social, political, religious and cultural homophobia

• Responses to MSM in National Strategic Plans of Countries

• Lack of appropriate programming and interventions for MSM

• Lack of appropriate advocacy for MSM

• How to draw on communities of practice

WE ARE ALL STAKEHOLDERS …WE ARE ALL STAKEHOLDERS WE ARE ALL STAKEHOLDERS ……

� Policy makers

� Researchers

� Programmers

� Community in general

� Health care workers

� LGBTi communities

� Same-sex Sexuality Practicing People

STUDY OF MSM WITHIN HIV & AIDS DEVELOPMENT POLICY

AND PROGRAMMING IN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

STUDY OF MSM WITHIN HIV & AIDS DEVELOPMENT POLICY STUDY OF MSM WITHIN HIV & AIDS DEVELOPMENT POLICY

AND PROGRAMMING IN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICAAND PROGRAMMING IN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

Purpose:

� To increase attention for MSM in HIV programming and promote more effective HIV outcomes among MSM in Eastern & Southern Africa

� To study impact of HIV & AIDS on MSM and their communities

� To examine needs of MSM in terms of HIV prevention, AIDS care and treatment

• To identify barriers to expression of male same-sex sexuality and social organisation of MSM

Components:

• Desktop study (review of scientific literature, reports) in comparative focus

• Focus Group Meetings (Southern & Eastern Africa)

• International Dialogue (Activists, Researcher, Policy Makers) to determine future action

Overall Study directed towards:Overall Study directed towards:Overall Study directed towards:

• Encouraging accelerated quality prevention

and HIV and health care delivery for MSM

• Influencing and affecting HIV, AIDS and rights

based policies relevant to MSM

• Strengthen capacity of communities and

community building

DESKTOP STUDYDESKTOP STUDYDESKTOP STUDY

� Access to prevention, care, treatment and service

delivery in respect of HIV/AIDS and sexual health

� Marginalisation

� Case study of initiatives and organisations in the area

of MSM in focus countries

� Sexual rights and citizenship

� Community building

� Broader health (including mental well-being)

FOCUS GROUP CONSULTATIONS: Southern

& Eastern Africa

FOCUS GROUP CONSULTATIONS: Southern FOCUS GROUP CONSULTATIONS: Southern

& Eastern Africa& Eastern Africa

� By May 2009 (meeting of LGBTI/sexual minority organisations)

� Identify structural and cultural barriers AND strategies for adequate HIV prevention, treatment and care for MSM

� Identify needs of MSM communities

� To discuss outline report of a desktop study

INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUEINTERNATIONAL DIALOGUEINTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE

• To engage stakeholders on identified trends in new and ongoing studies on HIV and AIDS (prevention, treatment and care)

• To explore challenges to HIV and AIDS prevention, advocacy, and research at MSM in Eastern and Southern Africa and develop potential solutions and strategies

• To work towards the establishment of a continental network for information dissemination and exchange of ideas related to research and advocacy in the area of MSM

• Identify some strategies in a broad way for interventions at SADC/EAC

PROCESSPROCESSPROCESS

� Participatory, open, consultative and inclusive

� Interactive

� We are all learners and stakeholders in this

process