A Compendium of Programs in Africa

Findings

All programs selected for the compendium were reviewed to identify lessons for program and policy audiences, such as:

• How multiple gender strategies were employed
• Gaps in programmatic efforts
• Similar and dissimilar approaches, experiences and lessons across programs

The review showed that many innovative programs exist in sub-Saharan Africa and implementers are successfully integrating multiple gender approaches into HIV programs. Combining gender strategies produces numerous benefits, including ensuring project salience and relevance, extending project reach, and reflecting the multiple, inter-related needs of beneficiaries.

Most programs lack rigorous data collection and evaluation, often because implementers do not have sufficient resources or technical capacity. Though all the programs featured in the Compendium are have strong gender components, few collect findings related to gender outcomes.

Of programs implementing two or more gender strategies:

• Reducing gender-based violence was most common
• Increasing women’s legal protection was the least common
• Programs often addressed male norms and behaviors in combination with gender-based violence efforts, successfully engaging men with innovative approaches; and
• Strategies to increase women’s income were combined with other strategies to sustain women’s capacity to address a range of issues in their lives, including violence and HIV

Recommendations

Programs that seek to initiate gender-based programming for the first time or to expand their current gender programming should be encouraged to include gender strategies in combination. These strategies are mutually reinforcing, while the costs of adding new gender components may be relatively low.

However, funders and program implementers should determine which strategies to combine, and how best to combine them, based on the specific gender constraints experienced by target audiences. Context-specific consequences of combining programming – both positive and negative – also must be considered and addressed. For example, program implementers have described increased spousal violence experienced by women who participated in income generation activities.

Targeted Recommendatrions

• Programs should combine gender strategies to address gender constraints of target audiences, which will strengthen HIV programs.
• Implementers need flexibility to adapt programming based on new findings to build in and combine gender strategies.
• Increasing the involvement of men –especially young men –should remain a high priority.
• Gender-based violence should be considered a key component in HIV programming, addressing other gender strategies and involving a broad range of actors.
• All programs should have a strong evaluation component
• Involvement and leadership from the community is integral to changing gender norms.

About

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the many colleagues who contributed to the development of this compendium. The members of the PEPFAR Gender Technical Working Group whose vision and technical input provided ongoing guidance and support to this effort include:

Lisa An (USAID)                                     Marissa Bohrer (OGAC, USAID)
Nomi Fuchs-Montgomery (OGAC)            Clint Liveoak (CDC)
Lauren Murphy (OGAC)                           Emily Osinoff (USAID)
Diana Prieto (USAID)                              Susan Settergren (CDC)
Madeleine Short (CDC)                           Laura Skolnik (USAID)
David Stanton (USAID)                           Anna Williams (USAID)

At ICRW, the vision for the Compendium began with Geeta Rao Gupta, Jessica Ogden, and Linda Sussman. The dedicated ICRW team brought the document to fruition, demonstrating real commitment to this effort. Team members include: Saranga Jain Anne Stangl Katherine Fritz Zayid Douglas Traci Eckhaus Noni Milici We would also like to thank the ICRW Communications team for their editorial support and finishing touches: Margo Young, Sandra Bunch, and consultant, Jennifer Nadeau. At AIDSTAR-One, we would like to thank Sharon Stash, Ed Scholl, Andrew Fullem, Frank DeSarbo, and Deborah Roseman for their ongoing support. We would also like to thank the USAID Cognizant Technical Officer manager of AIDSTAR-One, Shyami DeSilva.

We are grateful to the technical experts, who generously gave of their time and expertise in reviewing a draft of the Compendium, including:

Michal Avni (USAID)                                             Elizabeth Benomar (UNFPA)

Dr. Lynn Collins (UNFPA)                                       Nazneen Damji (UNIFEM)

Andrew Fullem (JSI)                                             Geeta Rao Gupta (ICRW)

Karen Hardee (Population Action International)        Julia Kim (University of the Witwatersrand; London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine)

Purnima Mane (UNFPA)                                         Manisha Mehta (EngenderHealth)

Ken Morrison (Constella Futures)                            Ben Ochieng (Population Council)

Jessica Ogden (ICRW)                                           Dr. Mary Otieno (UNFPA)

Julio Pacca (Pathfinder)                                         Deborah Roseman (JSI)

Ed Scholl (JSI)                                                      Kathleen Selvaggio (ICRW)

Sharon Stash (JSI)                                                Richard Strickland (USAID)

Ellen Weiss (ICRW)                                               Terri Wingate (CDC – Côte d’Ivoire)

Most of all, it is with a great deal of respect and admiration that we thank the dedicated colleagues who are implementing the programs that are represented in this compendium. They are a visionary and dedicated group of thought leaders who are demonstrating how gender approaches can be incorporated into HIV/AIDS programs. We thank them for taking the time from their extremely busy schedules to share program details and lessons they have learned in implementing these programs.