Scientific Development Workshop THWS06Mind the Gap

24th July 2014 Room- 111-112

Engaging Key Population in Evaluation StudiesExperiences from India

Kaushik Biswas Associate Director: Strategic InformationIndia HIV/AIDS Alliance, New Delhi

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• Pehchan (2010-15, Global Fund): Community Systems Strengthening to expand HIV prevention for MSM, transgender and hijra communities in 17 states

• Vihaan (2013-16, Global Fund): Development of a national network of 350 Care & Support Centres for PLHIV in 31 states and union teritorries

• Hridaya (2011-14, Government of the Netherlands): HIV prevention for PWID through expansion of harm reduction services in six states

• Asia Action on Harm Reduction in India (2013-15, European Commission): Advocacy for policy change on drug use and HIV/AIDS in five states

• Abhaya (2013-14, MAC AIDS Fund): Capacity development of FSW CBOs to improve integration of HIV prevention and SRH in two states

• Avahan (Phase 1: 2003-09, Phase 2: 2009-14, Gates Foundation): Community mobilization to support HIV prevention for sex workers and MSM/transgender in one state

Alliance India Current Programmes

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Engaging Key Populations in Evaluation & Research Studies• Baseline study of Global Fund-supported Pehchan programme

(MSM/transgenders/hijras) (2010-11)• Midline study of Global Fund-supported Pehchan programme (2012-13)• Pehchan operations research study on access to gender transition

services for transgenders and hijras (Issue brief and article in International Journal of Transgenderism) (2013)

• Baseline study of Hridaya/Community Action on Harm Reduction (PWID) (2010-11)

• Hridaya/Community Action on Harm Reduction Drug Use Pattern Assessment study (PWID) (2014)

• Hridaya operations research study on multiple vulnerabilities of PWID (2014)

• Koshish Most Significant Change study on SRH/HIV integration for PLHIV and KPs (2014)

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Pehchan(Hindi: acknowledgement, acceptance or identity)Global Fund-supported programme that develops capacity of CBOs to provide improved HIV prevention services to more than 450,000 MSM, transgender and hijra community members in 17 states in India over five years (2010-2015)Key Features• 90 Pre-Targeted Interventions (TI) & 110 TI-Plus

CBOs (Total: 200 SSR CBOs + 6 regional SRs)• 15% of clientele are transgenders or hijras• Community systems strengthening programme

designed to collaborate directly with government Targeted Interventions

• Builds capacity building of organisations and individuals

• Supports community-friendly services and undertakes advocacy and policy initiatives

Pehchan: Improved HIV Prevention through Community Systems Strengthening

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• Designed in collaboration with community experts and leaders

• Staffing at every level (vast majority of staff are MTH)

• Engaging MTH communities in initial needs assessment for programme

• Community oversight and governance through multi-tiered system

• Staff trained and engaged in routine monitoring of programme and periodic evaluation process

Programme Partnership with MTH Communities

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Community Engagement for Training Curriculum DevelopmentPehchan Training Curriculum: MSM, Transgender and Hijra Community Systems Strengthening Module A: 3 DaysProgramme Management M&E ToolsFinancial Management

Module B: 3.5 DaysLeadership & GovernanceOrganisational DevelopmentResource Mobilization

Module C: 2 Days Pre TI (Orientation on national programme and TI components)

Module D : 5.5 DaysIdentity, Gender & Sexuality Family SupportMental Health Addressing Issues Female Partners of MTH Transgender & Hijra Issues

Module E : 6.5 DaysLife Skills Education Trauma & ViolenceLegal RightsCommunity PreparednessFriendly ServicesPositive Living

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Community Engagement in Pehchan Research & Evaluation• Strategy designed in consultation with

community experts• Development of tools and instruments• Training of interviewers• Community facilitator engaged to identify and

facilitate interviews (baseline)• Community members interviewed respondents

(midline)• Interpretation of findings through community

engagement to develop the report

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Benefits of Community Engagement in Research & Evaluation• Integrates community perspectives

―Identifying the right questions―Asking questions in the right way

• Helps locate the hard-to-reach• Increases efficiency of data collection• Ensures quality of data collected• Helps manage difficult situations during interviews• Encourages community ownership of process• Facilitates the use of findings in programme implementation• Builds capacity of programme staff and other MTH community

members in research and other related skills

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Thank you!Kaushik Biswas

Associate Director: Strategic Information

India HIV/AIDS Alliancekbiswas@allianceindia.org

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