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

Partner
Organizations
Implementation partners:
• 300 CSOs and PSOs, e.g., Women Action Forum for Networking
(WAFNET) and Western Women Empowerment Network (WWEN)
• Ministry of Health, Kenya
• National AIDS Control Council (NACC), Kenya
Evaluation partner:
• Swedish International Development Agency (Sida)
IMPLEMENTATION AND RESULTS
Start-up and
Implementation
Process
Program start-up included a formative assessment, program design and
planning, baseline survey, development of project management structures
(grants technical review committees, program implementation team),
establishment of field offices, and an initial call for grant applications.
The program has provided technical support to more than 300 prevention,
treatment, care and support grant recipients. Grants are awarded based
upon capacity assessment of applicants and review and approval of
applications by program teams and external grants technical review
committees. CSO and PSO capacity is enhanced using the organizational
development and systems strengthening approach, help with contract
management, and strengthening of financial systems. Funded
organizations are monitored through periodic visits and review of submitted
reports. The program also works to strengthen linkages among programs
and between programs and government structures to enhance overall HIV
and AIDS programming.
Local Involvement/
Ownership
Maanisha maintains strong partnerships with government structures,
including the Ministry of Health and the NACC. By transferring skills
through capacity-building activities with both individuals and organizational
systems, the program aims to be sustainable. Within the capacity-building
strategy, community members who are part of CSOs design and implement
HIV and AIDS interventions of their choice.
Evaluation
Methodology
• Formative needs assessment, 2004: Program implementers employed
a participatory approach in conducting a formal needs assessment.
They involved key stakeholders at all stages of study design, and data
collection and in generating the conceptual framework for the five-year
program. The needs assessment covered the following areas: 1)
assessing the technical and organizational capacities of all
organizations and agencies (health facilities and institutions, nongovernmental
organizations, CSOs, and faith-based organizations)
involved in HIV and AIDS activities in Nyanza and Western provinces of
Kenya; 2) identifying the needs of vulnerable groups, such as people
living with HIV, orphans, youth, widows and widowers; and 3)
conducting stakeholder analysis to identify HIV and AIDS implementers
to participate in the five-year program.
• Baseline assessment, 2005: Maanisha has a full-fledged monitoring
and evaluation framework nested in the monitoring and evaluation
framework of the NACC. Evaluators administered cross-sectional
Knowledge, Practice and Coverage surveys using household
questionnaires to the adult and youth populations. Surveys investigated
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