Implementing Multiple Gender Strategies to Improve HIV and ... - ICRW

IMPLEMENTATION AND RESULTS
Start-up and
Implementation
Process
ASWHAN generated proposals from potential support groups by
advertising through multiple channels, including Internet forums, a network
of various civil society groups, the Network of People Living with HIV and
AIDS in Nigeria, and religious organizations. A committee made up of
various stakeholders reviewed proposals, and once support groups were
selected, ASWHAN provided them with an orientation on the Community
Care in Nigeria strategy. Throughout implementation, ASWHAN provides
grants, information, infrastructure, coordination, oversight, and technical
assistance on good practices to the implementing support groups.
Local Involvement/
Ownership
Members of each implementing support group involve the community
leadership in the implementation process. At the national level, the Ministry
of Women Affairs coordinates activities addressing women and children’s
welfare. Local representatives of this ministry and other government
agencies are briefed and are represented in the various protection/welfare
committees.
Participation in the SLAs is voluntary, and communities select the SLA
facilitators. This level of community involvement should ensure that
activities outlive the project life cycle.
Evaluation
Methodology
• Monitoring: ASWHAN regularly collects data on service coverage.
Indicators include number of women and children served by the project,
number of caregivers trained to care for orphans and vulnerable
children, number of protection committees established, and number of
households benefiting from SLAs.
Evaluation Results • Monitoring: Data indicate the project has reached 2,550 women, 3,675
orphans and vulnerable children, and 1,130 households. The project
has established 49 SLAs, 37 Kids Clubs, 33 Youth Clubs, and 6
protection committees.
Replication and
Scale-up Activities
• Community Care in Nigeria is operating in eight states, but has not yet
been replicated or scaled up. However, there is demand from
neighboring communities to expand the project.
LESSONS LEARNED AND CHALLENGES
Key Findings and
Lessons
• Addressing women’s economic, legal, health care, and other needs
benefits other constituencies in the community and makes the project
more widely accepted and easier to implement.
• Women’s economic empowerment increases their power to choose a
school for their children, helps them keep their children in school, and
helps them hold on to their residence.
• Establishing protection committees and facilitating community
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