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

part of this strategy, Maanisha has developed a manual to guide partners in
designing and implementing gender strategies such as the reduction of
gender-based violence into HIV and AIDS prevention, care, treatment, and
support activities. The program also provides CSOs with support in
addressing risk factors that contribute to violence, such as alcoholism.
In addition, a set of male involvement guidelines specifically help partners
respond to harmful male norms and behaviors in the context of the
epidemic, and show CSOs how to encourage men to participate as
community health workers in home-based care, PMTCT, and counseling.
Maanisha also helps to train men, particularly young men, in providing care
to people living with HIV, which can help ease the care-giving burden on
girls and women.
In partnership with the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya, Maanisha
helps women in need of legal protection reach competent legal
authorities. In addition, since 2007, the program has been working to help
women in Nyanza own and inherit resources, especially land, together with
the reform organization Governance, Justice, Law and Order Sector and in
consultations with the Luo Council of Elders.
In addition to capacity building, Maanisha’s grants-making program
provides partners with funding for HIV-related activities. These partners
include women-led CSOs and networks, such as the Women Action Forum
for Networking and Western Women Empowerment Network. The program
also strengthens and improves these partners’ financial management and
reporting systems, and provides financial monitoring. Maanisha also works
to improve women’s access to income by linking people living with HIV
and AIDS, particularly women, to microcredit to enable them to engage in
small businesses to help increase their income and improve their
livelihoods. For example, it links women to Kenya Women Finance Trust for
microfinancing.
The program implementation team also works with a variety of partners to
ensure that girls and women, including those living with HIV, have access
to resources. For example, Maanisha partners with Kenyan decentralized
funds structures such as the Constituency Development Funds, the Local
Authorities Trust Fund, and the Constituency Bursary Funds to provide
education and health care for orphans and vulnerable children.
Target Audience
CSOs, PSOs, people living with HIV, orphaned and vulnerable children,
adolescents, youth, men, and women
Level of Intervention • Implementation: Community
• Advocacy: District, Provincial, National
Geographic
Location
Nyanza, Western, Eastern and Lake Victoria Basin Districts of the Rift
Valley Province
Timeframe
2004–ongoing
Funders • Swedish International Development Agency (Sida)
• UK Department for International Development (DFID)
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