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

THE FATHERHOOD AND CHILD SECURITY PROJECT
LEAD ORGANIZATIONS:
COUNTRY:
HIV PROGRAM AREA:
Sonke Gender Justice Network
South Africa
Prevention, Care and Support
OVERVIEW:
The Fatherhood and Child Security Project encourages and supports men to play a more active role
in the lives of their families, to work to eliminate violence against women and children, to prevent the
spread of HIV, and to promote support for orphans and vulnerable children. The project uses focus
group discussions to elicit attitudes and assumptions about men’s roles and works with local nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) and government officials to devise grassroots strategies to help
men and boys prevent violence and respond to HIV. Evaluation results indicate substantial shifts in
gender- and HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes among those participating in the project
workshops. Key lessons include the importance of involving men who are leaders and can influence
community attitudes, and the need to work across levels (government, media, local leaders, etc.) to
build strong relationships for project success.
BACKGROUND
HIV and AIDS
Program Goals
The Fatherhood and Child Security Project supports men and boys in
playing a more active role in the lives of their families, especially orphans
and vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS. The project also
develops boys’ and men’s capacity to be advocates and activists in efforts
to eliminate violence against women and children. The initiative is part of
Sonke’s One Man Can Campaign, which encourages men and boys to take
action to end domestic and sexual violence, respond to HIV and AIDS, and
promote healthy, equitable, and mutually respectful relationships.
Gender Strategies
Addressed
Reducing violence and coercion
Addressing male norms and behaviors
Increasing women’s legal protection
Increasing women’s access to income and productive resources
Other:
Description of
Intervention
The Fatherhood and Child Security Project has two primary objectives.
First, it aims to increase men’s involvement in the lives of their own children
and families, and their commitment to ensuring that children (particularly
orphans and vulnerable children) have access to essential social services.
Second, it develops men’s capacity to be advocates and activists to
eliminate violence against women and children, prevent the spread of HIV
and AIDS, and promote health, care and support for orphans and
vulnerable children. Both objectives seek to transform harmful or
nonsupportive male norms and behaviors into positive practices that
improve their own and their families’ lives.
Through this work in rural parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape,
Sonke Gender Justice Network (Sonke) has developed a model for working
with men to increase their involvement in meeting the needs of children
affected by HIV and AIDS. These needs include access to social services,
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