Peace Corps Global HIV/AIDS Strategy (FY )

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1 The Peace corps :: global hiv/aids str ategy :: fisc al years of 5 Peace Corps Global HIV/AIDS Strategy (FY ) 2007 facts BacKGroUnd 33 million people are living with hiv. More than 25 million people have died of aids-related causes since ,000 people are infected every day. ways of integrating HIV/AIDS into programming and training. In 2004, the Peace Corps became one of the partners in the President s Emergency 80% of aids-related deaths are in sub-saharan africa. The highest hiv prevalence outside of africa is in the caribbean. The fastest growing epidemic is in eastern europe and central asia. 50% of new infections are among young people. 48% of adults living with hiv are women. 15 million children have lost one or both parents to aids. 1 93% of Peace corps posts worldwide reported training volunteers on hiv and aids. Peace corps volunteers assisted nearly 1 million people with prevention and care activities EpiReport/2006/2006_EpiUpdate_en.pdf and FY 2007 Peace Corps HIV/AIDS Initiative Reports. Since the early days of the pandemic in the 1980s, Peace Corps Volunteers around the world have contributed to the global response to AIDS by helping people adopt healthy behaviors and assisting communities to mitigate its effects. To demonstrate the agency s commitment in the fight against HIV/AIDS, in 1997, the Peace Corps developed a five-year Global HIV/AIDS Initiative encouraging all posts to explore Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest international health initiative to fight a single disease.1 During the first phase of PEPFAR (2004 to 2008), 31 Peace Corps posts and headquarters received PEPFAR funds totaling approximately $52,000,000 to expand and enhance the agency s HIV/AIDS interventions. The Peace Corps is positioned to continue and expand its role in PEPFAR Phase II. Over the years, the Peace Corps has developed a niche in the area of capacity building at the grassroots level. More than 25 years into the AIDS pandemic, its effects on societies are devastating, and Peace Corps efforts are needed more than ever. strategic framework The following strategic framework is a guide for the Peace Corps response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This strategy supports the agency s mission of providing an effective and satisfying Volunteer experience, contributes to the achievement of the Peace Corps three goals and aligns with its Strategic Plan PEPFAR: An unprecedented commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS, April 2008, Peace Corps Draft Strategic Plan, Office of Strategic Information, Planning and Research, February

2 2 of 5 Vision The Peace Corps will contribute to the global response to HIV/AIDS in the areas of prevention and care through its core function of capacity building at the individual, service provider, organization, and community levels. As a result: The spread of HIV/AIDS will be slowed as individuals and communities assisted by Volunteers adopt or maintain healthy behaviors. The effects of HIV/AIDS will be mitigated as individuals, organizations and communities trained by Volunteers develop and strengthen necessary skills. Principles HIV/AIDS concerns all development sectors and all regions of the world. Everyone needs accurate information about HIV/AIDS, how to prevent infection, and, if infected, how to care for themselves and their families. As the HIV/AIDS pandemic progresses, the Peace Corps must be flexible in its response, adapt to meet different needs in different locations, and adjust its actions in light of new evidence and best practices. In accordance with agency policy, Peace Corps Volunteers do not provide direct medical care, treatment, or clinical counseling. The Peace Corps Director, through the Office of AIDS Relief (D/OAR), provides overall strategic leadership for the achievement of the goals set forth in this strategy. D/OAR collaborates closely with HQ Regional Offices, the Center for Field Assistance and Applied Research, the Office of the Inspector General, the Office of Volunteer Support, the Office of Returned Volunteer Services, the Office of Volunteer Recruitment and Selection, and other offices to ensure that policies, procedures and resources support the implementation of this strategy. Country directors are responsible for managing post-level systems related to HIV/AIDS programming, training, monitoring and evaluation, and support for Volunteers; staff training and support; and in-country partnerships to enhance the Peace Corps role in the response to HIV/AIDS. Assumptions Properly trained Volunteers can contribute to and support host country responses to the pandemic through local capacity building. The Peace Corps will dedicate the human and technical resources necessary to support this strategy, subject to the availability of funds. Performance Goals and Indicators Performance Goal 1: Place and support Volunteers who are capable of carrying out effective HIV/AIDS activities (Supports Peace Corps Strategic Goal 1) Preparing Volunteers to contribute effectively to the global AIDS response begins during the recruitment process so prospective Volunteers understand the Peace Corps HIV/AIDS approach and the role they may play if selected to serve. Recruitment events and materials will showcase the excellent work of Volunteers while presenting the emotional impact and other challenges faced by some Volunteers, especially in countries with high HIV prevalence. When necessary, Volunteers may be recruited for specialized HIV/AIDS-related assignments.

3 3 of 5 Once in country, Volunteers should be provided with state-of-the-art HIV/AIDS pre-service and in-service training (PST and IST). In addition to personal health and safety training intended to teach Volunteers how to protect themselves from infection, PST and IST should equip Volunteers with the information and skills needed to carry out effective and culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS interventions in their communities. Volunteers working in communities particularly devastated by HIV/AIDS may experience added stress watching friends, neighbors, and colleagues struggle with this reality. In countries where HIV is not perceived as a threat or where stigma and discrimination are prevalent, Volunteers may be frustrated by their perceived inability to affect change. Support systems, both at the post and headquarters levels, will be designed to assist Volunteers in meeting these challenges. Where possible, services for returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs), such as HIV/AIDS-related career fairs, will highlight opportunities for RPCVs to continue their work in HIV/AIDS, (e.g., through Peace Corps Response); promote ways to share their experiences with other Americans; and offer information about how to seek emotional support when needed. # of HIV/AIDS-focused recruitment activities (data source: VRS) # of Volunteers joining Peace Corps with a background in HIV/AIDS (data source: VRS) % of posts providing HIV/AIDS training beyond personal health and safety (data source: Agency HIV Initiative Report (IR)) % of Volunteers receiving HIV training beyond personal health and safety (data source: Agency Initiative Report) Average hours of HIV/AIDS training received by Volunteers (data source: HIV IR, Training Status Report) % of posts providing HIV/AIDS training to staff (data source: IPBS) # of Peace Corps Response Volunteers assigned to HIV/AIDS-related organizations (data source: Peace Corps Response) % of Volunteers reporting having received adequate emotional support during service (data source: Biennial Volunteer Survey, COS Survey) # of HIV/AIDS-focused returned Volunteer career events organized by Peace Corps (data source: Domestic Programs)

4 4 of 5 Performance Goal 2: Develop HIV/AIDS projects and activities that respond to host country requests, policies and strategies, and are tailored to the interests and priorities of the individuals, service providers, communities, and organizations with which Volunteers live and work. (Supports Peace Corps Strategic Goal 4) The Peace Corps should strive to support evidence-based programming and the development of sustainable solutions. While the Peace Corps continues to seek innovative approaches, programming and training should be informed about promising practices and lessons learned both within the Peace Corps and from other organizations when appropriate. Peace Corps Volunteers HIV/AIDS activities should be strategically designed to have a lasting and tangible effect on the behavior of individuals, and the operational effectiveness, efficiency, and responsiveness of the service providers, communities, and organizations they assist. Peace Corps programs may integrate HIV/AIDS into project plans or promote it as a community service activity. To determine the appropriate type and level of intervention for Peace Corps Volunteers, posts should conduct periodic assessments of their local context. These assessments should involve gathering and analyzing information on HIV prevalence, host country HIV/AIDS policies and strategies, other development partners responses, and the Peace Corps comparative advantage. Volunteers activities should be suited to local needs and designed to strengthen host government policies, strategies, and systems. As with all Peace Corps programs, skills transfer, capacity building, and behavior change at the individual, organization, and community level underpin Volunteers HIV/AIDS activities. Addressing the social, economic (including income generation), and health effects of HIV/AIDS, particularly in rural and other underserved areas, should be at the heart of the Peace Corps work. Volunteers HIV/AIDS activities should promote and strengthen community leadership and civil society in addressing HIV/AIDS. The development of Life Skills should be a primary prevention and mitigation strategy. The Peace Corps activities should be culturally sensitive and responsive to local customs and circumstances. Prevention interventions should be age-appropriate and focus on changing knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. Activities benefiting people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans and vulnerable children should support comprehensive, family- and community -focused strategies for meeting their needs. 3 As more women and young people are infected with HIV, Peace Corps HIV/AIDS programming and training should consider gender- and youth-related issues, such as women s biological, economic and social vulnerability; unequal access to information, education and services; and the need to ensure that men and boys have culturally appropriate opportunities to discuss, reflect, and support positive attitudes and behavior in gender relationships to prevent the transmission of HIV. Stigma and discrimination pose significant barriers to dealing effectively with the pandemic. The Peace Corps programs should address stigma and discrimination by encouraging the involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS and those affected by it, emphasizing the role of local leadership in combating stigma and denial and providing correct information about transmission and prevention. Accountability through effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting should be emphasized in the Peace Corps HIV/AIDS programs. Volunteers should receive training on how to collect and report high quality data to measure progress in terms of both appropriate process and achievement of desired results. 3 Refer to the D/OAR page of the Peace Corps Intranet for U.S. government guidance on Abstinence, Be Faithful and Correct and Consistent Condom Use; on OVC services; and on care programming.

5 The Peace Corps :: global hiv/aids str ategy :: fisc al years of 5 % of posts reporting HIV activities conducted % of Volunteers conducting HIV/AIDS activities (data source: IR or Biennial Volunteer Survey) % of projects that integrate HIV/AIDS at the goal or objective level (data source: Project Plan Data Base) # of individuals assisted with prevention and care activities # of individuals trained in prevention and care # of HIV/AIDS-related organizations assisted Performance Goal 3: Optimize global AIDS relief partnerships and resources. (Supports Peace Corps Strategic Goals 4 and 5) The Peace Corps should contribute to the achievement of global HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment goals. Where collaboration enhances or expands its HIV/AIDS programs, the Peace Corps may collaborate with United States Government (USG) (e.g., PEPFAR) and other international AIDS relief partners. Collaboration with host country and other partners would include developing policies, strategies and monitoring and evaluation systems that govern the implementation of HIV/AIDS programs; and taking advantage of resources to improve these programs. % of posts receiving PEPFAR funds (data source: D/OAR) % of posts collaborating with international partners and NGOs on HIV/AIDS efforts (data source:d/oar) % of posts receiving funds for HIV/AIDs activities, through outside resources, such as the Peace Corps/USAID HIV/AIDS Inter-Agency Agreement, Office of Private Secor Initatives (data source: D/OAR)