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

CORRIDORS OF HOPE II
LEAD ORGANIZATIONS:
COUNTRY:
HIV PROGRAM AREA:
RTI International
Family Health International (FHI)
Zambia
Prevention
OVERVIEW:
The Corridors of Hope II HIV/AIDS Prevention Initiative (COH II) aims to decrease HIV transmission,
morbidity, and mortality among the general population in seven of the highest-prevalence border and
corridor communities in Zambia. The initiative engages local leaders and local governmental and
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to play a central role in the project’s design, implementation,
and evaluation. Its primary strategy is to change community norms of sexual behavior, especially
among groups at greatest risk. COH II’s prevention services include behavior change communication
and social mobilization interventions, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
(STIs), expanded HIV counseling and testing services, and strengthened referral networks. All
activities closely involve the border and corridor communities themselves to help change the key
social norms affecting HIV transmission. The project also links women with organizations that help
with legal protection and that assist aspiring women entrepreneurs. The program has seen broad
successes in behavior change to decrease HIV risk.
BACKGROUND
HIV & AIDS
Program Goals
COH II aims to decrease HIV transmission, morbidity, and mortality among
the general population in seven of the highest-prevalence border and
corridor communities in Zambia.
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
COH II builds on COH I (originally know as the Cross-Border Initiative),
which was implemented from 2000 to 2006 in 10 communities in Zambia.
COH I initially provided behavior change and STI services to female sex
workers and their clients—particularly long-distance truck drivers and
uniformed services personnel. Secondary targets included men in the
targeted border and corridor communities who procured the services of sex
workers. In 2004, coverage for youth ages 15–19 was added and services
were expanded to include counseling and testing for HIV.
Over time, COH I staff recognized that the more general population was
also at risk for HIV. Thus, COH II works with all people in the border and
transit towns and surrounding communities. Within this population, the
project pays attention to the particular needs of youth, women, and men, as
well as high-risk groups such as commercial sex workers, young girls
engaging in transactional sex, young girls and older men engaging in crossgenerational
sex, victims of sexual violence, and sero-discordant partners.
COH II also works with transient populations such as long-distance truck
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