Abstract #174  -  Capacity Strengthening of LGBTI Organisations Is Essential for Effective HIV/STI Prevention
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Mr. Bram Langen - Schorer
Additional Authors:
Aim: In many countries, sexual diversity is rarely discussed, if not prohibited by law. Often it is also a reason for condemnation and social exclusion. LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex people) run a higher risk of becoming infected with HIV and STIs, due in part to their internalised homophobia and limited access to testing facilities. Nonetheless, regular prevention initiatives pay little attention to these high-risk groups. Faced with the lack of response from the responsible authorities, many LGBTI organisations see it as their responsibility to take the lead in HIV/STI prevention for LGBTI. This has substantially increased the scope and volume of the work of many LGBTI organisations.
Method / Issue: Since 2007, Schorer (the Netherlands’ institute for LGBTI health and well-being) has been collaborating with 17 organisations in the Global South in an international program to quantitatively and qualitatively strengthen HIV/STI prevention for LGBTI. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Funding has pledged to fund this ‘Safe and Strong’ programme through 2010. Effective HIV/STI prevention requires research on individual and environmental determinants that influence health and on ways of reaching at-risk populations. Using community-based needs assessments, each partner has made strategic choices for prevention interventions, which are currently being implemented. Continuous reflection and adjustment form an integral part of these evidence-informed and plan-based projects. The programme also devotes substantial attention to empowering LGBTI groups, improving societal and political attitudes towards sexual minorities, and integrating prevention for LGBTI into mainstream health structures.
Results / Comments: Specific and explicit attention for capacity strengthening is a focal point of the programme. To provide the target groups with qualitatively good services, an organisation needs to become stronger and more resilient. Such organisations will also be in a better position to lobby for continued prevention activities. Schorer’s expert technical support and coaching continues to strengthen its partners’ capacity to run needs assessments, to design, implement and monitor interventions, to lobby and mainstream, and to empower LGBTI groups. With specifically earmarked funding, Schorer also supports work on an organisation’s broader capacities. Partners are implementing organisation-specific capacity-strengthening plans based on a facilitated capacity self-assessment. In these plans, partner organisations not only focus on prevention capacity, but also address broader organisational systems, structures and strategies, cultures, leadership and network development.
Discussion: Capacity strengthening and the fulfilment of prevention ambitions take place simultaneously. This is both an opportunity and a challenge. Partners have tremendous energy and are committed to addressing the identified needs even as the organisation’s capacity to move to the next step is being strengthened. Strengthening bonds between partners to encourage them to strategise beyond their local level creates opportunities for influencing decision-makers in their countries and region. Although partner organisations have much in common, they also differ in terms of their developmental stage, context, personality and approach. Schorer must therefore provide differentiated and flexible support. Supporting the capacity strengthening of its partners has forced Schorer to make its own approach more explicit. This, in turn, has fed internal learning processes within Schorer.
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