AFAO Asia and Pacific MSM Initiative
HIV epidemics amongst the MSM and gay communities are rapidly escalating internationally. In June 2008 AusAID provided AFAO with funding to implement four MSM and HIV related projects across the Asia and Pacific regions.
Four projects were selected for funding, with final decisions based on comparative need, geographic scope, activity feasibility and sustainability of outcomes. The four projects were:
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Support for the Indonesian Gay, Transgender and other Men who have sex with Men's Working Group and Network;
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Mekong Regional MSM Consultation: ACON and Rainbow Sky Association Thailand;
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Learning lessons from Asian region scale-up of MSM programming and Strengthening Asia Pacific participation at the Mexico City International AIDS Conference and its associated MSM pre-Conference Satellite on MSM ('Asian MSM lessons learned project');
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Strengthening governance, strategic management and advocacy capacity of Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health.
Although developed as separate projects common challenges, issues, and potential 'success factors' were evident in evaluation:
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MSM communities and their organisations across the Asia and Pacific region are not provided opportunities to meaningfully participate in the development and delivery of HIV services and programs. A situation which, unless addressed, will see the implementation of socially and culturally inappropriate and ineffective responses to HIV amongst MSM;
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Urgent investment is required to strengthen the capacity of MSM communities and their organisations to participate in HIV responses at the local, national and regional level;
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Current MSM and HIV programming remains completely inadequate and, where and when available, is either 'ad hoc' or focused entirely on the service delivery; with limited investment in community development activities;
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MSM communities across the region continue to demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to working together to ameliorate the impact of HIV; work which continues as unfunded and often in contexts of extreme stigma and discrimination.
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