Involving Leaders in the HIV/AIDS Response

Background
As an NGO with long experience in communication, training and development in Africa, ACI worked closely with UNDP between 1990 and 1991 to help develop a training model called HIV and Development designed to raise awareness among decision makers. This model treats HIV/AIDS as an element in the worldwide challenge to achieve sustainable human development and places the accent on the socio-economic aspects of the epidemic. Through the use of planning and programming exercises during training sessions, ACI provides opportunities for analysis and reflection that help to strengthen the spirit of initiative and the capacity of participants and their communities to act. The true uniqueness of this training, however, lies in its overall strategy of seeking both the intellectual and emotional involvement of the individual participants through the extensive use of stories and films and a moving simulation exercise called «Wildfire» that allows participants to experience for a short, intense time, what people living with HIV feel.

By the end of these training programs, participants have a much clearer understanding of the epidemic. They better understand the effects and ravages of the epidemic in the world, in Africa and in Senegal. But most important, they return to their communities with greater empathy, convinced that anyone can be at risk of infection and that they can and must act to protect their communities.

Our Advocacy and Policy Work
These training activities have made ACI a key actor in the mobilization of community leaders, religious leaders, political leaders, private sector decision makers, artists and musicians…but also in building the skills of activists working in advocacy and policy dialogue. Over the years, ACI has helped to train and mobilize thousands of leaders in Senegal and West Africa.

The goal of our advocacy and policy work is to build political will in order to drive
progress in responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We work to educate and influence opinion leaders and key communicators as a means of generating support for minimizing the number of new infections, improving service delivery to those already infected, and improving the ability of governments and organizations to respond to the social and economic effects of the crisis. We do this by identifying and empowering those individuals, constituencies and populations who can be most influential. We provide the training, materials and support these groups need for their message to be heard. Progress can be made in addressing the epidemic when key opinion leaders such as political and religious leaders, the media, private sector leaders and others are fully educated and involved in the effort.

The following are some examples of advocacy and policy initiatives designed and implemented by ACI since the mid-1990s to the present. These activities have involved Senegalese religious and political leaders, professional communicators and private sector organizations.

USAID-sponsored AIDSCAP regional seminars January 1995 through August 1996
ACI organized six four-day programs in four regions of Senegal (Thiès, Kaolack, Ziguinchor, and three in Dakar) to facilitate policy dialogue among approximately 270 opinion leaders in collaboration with the National AIDS Committee. Participants included religious and political leaders, youth and women's leaders, educators and union representatives.

AIDS Information Days for the Senegalese Parliament July, 1996
ACI designed and conducted the first 2-day AIDS information session for Senegalese parliamentary leaders, in collaboration with AIDSCAP and the National AIDS Committee. ACI was again called upon to assist the National Assembly in the organization of a second such event in 2003.

Assistance to the Moslem group Jamra and to the Catholic Association SIDA Service in the organization of two major events for religious leaders: the AIDS and Islam Conference held in March 1995 and the Seminar on the Response of the Christian Churches to AIDS held in January 1996.

ACI organized a series of discussions, hearings, and workshops as a support to advocacy activities within the 2000-2006 FHI AIDS project, funded by USAID. Some examples include:

• Hearings before the Health and Population Network of Senegal's National Assembly, working with the National AIDS Control Program and HIV/AIDS organizations, as well as journalists and editors (2003)
• An HIV/AIDS and Development workshop for 15 representatives of theater groups working with AIDS and reproductive health subjects in July 2001
• An AIDS awareness-raising breakfast with 30 representatives of 's private sector and international agencies in February 2002 and a series of training programs for the entire staff of TOTAL and BICIS
• The design and organization of a series of innovative "espaces de dialogue" or discussion groups for doctors from Senegal's AMES (Association of Private Enterprise Physicians) on the development of HIV/AIDS programs in the private sector and a daylong awareness-raising exercise for the Association of Family Enterprises in Senegal (APEFA). (2003-2004)

< Prev		Next >