International grants scheme
The AFAO International Grants Scheme has been supported by a generous individual benefactor since 2002. To date the scheme has supported 32 projects in several countries, with a focus on the Asia Pacific region, and more specifically on South East Asia and Papua New Guinea.
The scheme aims to promote and strengthen community-based responses to the HIV and AIDS epidemics across the region by providing much needed resources to communities most affected by HIV and AIDS including people living with HIV, drug users, men who have sex with men (msm), and transgender people.
The objectives of the grant scheme are:
- To promote the participation, visibility and central role of people living with HIV in all responses to the HIV epidemic
- To promote the participation of affected and vulnerable communities in all responses to the HIV epidemic, and
- To promote community responses to the epidemic through strengthening the capacity of community-based and non-government organisations to play an active role in responses to the epidemic.
The scheme has supported a range of projects, including; organisational capacity building, policy development, advocacy, strategic planning, GIPA, seed funding to new and innovative organisations, targeted study tours, and resource development.
Grants vary widely from organisation to organisation,and range from AUD $2,000, to AUD $50,000.
AFAO advertises rounds of the grant scheme periodically, usually on an annual basis, via the AFAO website and through regional HIV/AIDS e-listserves.
Current Grant Scheme Projects
Funded projects as at February 2012
Indonesia
The Indonesia Gay, Transgender and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men National Network (GWL-INA) – " Strengthening the GWL-INA National Network Program: Preparation for 2nd Round "
February-June 2012
The GWL-INA Network aims to strengthen and scale up HIV prevention and care programs among gay, transgender and other men who have sex with men in Indonesia.
AFAO's current grant will:
- Support GWL-INA’s next National Meeting to be held in Jakarta in late February 2012. Eighty (80) members of the network and other stakeholders will attend the meeting to plan for the Network’s next 3 years
- Support some members to undertake training in conducting social research
- Enable the GWL-INA to purchase financial management software and to provide training to staff on how to use the software.
Laos
Laos Youth Action for AIDS Program (LYAP): “Consultation workshops for MSM and TG community in Lao PDR”
1 October 2011- 31 March 2012
Lao PDR is considered a low prevalence country for HIV however the rates of infection between men who have sex with men are proportionately higher than within the general population. The MSM population of Lao is diverse, being made up of men with a wide range of sexual behaviours and related or un-related self-identities.
The small grant will assist LYAP and local partners to conduct consultations with MSM/TG from at least 9 provinces in Laos PDR. The consultations will provide a space for MSM/TG to come together to share issues important to them and discuss ways in which they might organize to influence HIV-related policies and health services.
LYAP will carefully document the consultations and prepare a report, which may be used to inform policy makers on the issues confronting MSM/TG and as evidence in future proposal development to mobilise and support MSM/TG across the country.
Asia/Pacific Regions
Asia Pacific Network of People with HIV and AIDS (APN+)
“APN+ GFATM Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant”
1 October 2011- 30 September 2012
APN+ is the peak body of PLHIV groups and networks with 30 country members across Asia and the Pacific. It was established in response to the need for a collective voice for PLHIV in the region, and to represent and support national PLHIV groups and networks; and to better link regional PLHIV with the Global Network of PLHIV (GNP+) and positive networks throughout the world.
The small grant will enable APN+ to recruit a monitoring and evaluation (M & E) assistant to support the Network’s multi-country proposal (GFATM Round 10 grant) and to develop the M & E capacity within the Network. The grant provides for salary and associated training expenses.
The position will be located at the APN+ Secretariat in Bangkok, Thailand.
Myanmar
Myanmar MSM Network: “The Myanmar National MSM Forum and First Myanmar MSM Network Quarterly Meeting”
1 September 2011- 1 February 2012
In December 2010, the MSM Network brought together representatives from 12 regions of Myanmar to Yangon for a national workshop to determine a governance structure, its core values, and a six-month work plan.
The network successfully defined specific governance roles, elected new officers, and defined its values, vision, mission, and objectives.
This grant from AFAO will support the Network in Myanmar to convene a 3 day forum. The forum will bring together approximately 100 people from across Myanmar representing the UN, INGOs, local CBOs, the MSM Network’s 12 regions, and members and supporters of the Myanmar MSM community to collaboratively develop advocacy strategies for the network, including a strategic plan.
In addition to providing a forum focusing on the programmatic needs of MSM, the MSM Network also wishes to strengthen its own nationwide network by bringing together representatives from each of the12 regions for quarterly meetings.
The Network is currently hampered in its ability to coordinate its nationwide network due to a lack of regular nationwide meetings. The quarterly meetings will enable the Network to coordinate the needs of each of its represented regions and plan and develop programming in a cohesive manner at the national level.
The meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss issues and challenges that MSM face in Myanmar and the particular services that are needed to address these challenges.
Greater Mekong Sub-region
Purple Sky Network (PSN)
“Strengthening the PSN Secretariat and Board”
1 October 2011- 30 September 2012
The Purple Sky Network (PSN), established in 2006, is a network of six national and provincial technical working groups (TWGs) and one national MSM network, advocating for HIV-related prevention and care priorities for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people (TG) in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) of Southeast Asia.
PSN works through local MSM networks and organizations in Cambodia, China’s Guangxi and Yunnan provinces, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam to strengthen the response to HIV for MSM and TG communities.
The grant from AFAO aims to ensure the sustainability of the Secretariat and contribute to capacity building of the newly established PSN governing board.
The grant will support the employment of a full time coordinator, to ensure the continual growth and sustainability of the network and to implement PSN’s current Strategic Plan.
The PSN coordinator will be located within the AFAO office in Bangkok, Thailand.
Nepal
Punarbal Plus
Kathmandu
The Punarbal Shikshya Sadan School provides educational opportunities and a supportive environment for HIV positive and affected children, including orphans, who are unable to access mainstream schooling due to stigma and discrimination.
AFAO funding is supporting a further one year of operational costs for Punarbal Plus to continue to deliver a standard educational curriculum in addition to non curricular activities including art and craft classes, dance and singing, and nutritional support.
Year two additional AFAO funding has meant that school enrolments have been able to increase from 35 to 56 children.
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