Social Movement Against HIV/AIDS Project in Achham and Doti districts – external evaluation report

Background and context

The Social Movement against HIV/AIDS Project, also popularly known as SoVAA Movement Promotion Project is a HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support project, implemented by SCNN through its partners in Doti and Achham. The project was initiated in 1999 in Achham and in 2002 in Doti in response to the growing threat of HIV/AIDS transmission in these districts. GGBM and SSD have been the strategic partners for this project since the beginning. The main thrust of the SoVAA approach is to cultivate the spirit of volunteerism to create a movement against HIV transmission and to provide community-based care and support to infected and affected people. The project was funded by SCNZ till September 2007. This external evaluation was carried out by a team of consultants in November 2007.

Purpose / objective as specified in the terms of reference:

• To assess the impact of project on the lives of children in reducing their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS infection and minimizing its impact on their life.

• To assess the success of the project in promoting knowledge, attitude and safer practices, mobilizing community against HIV/AIDS, reducing stigma and discrimination, and providing care and support to infected and affected people.

• To appraise the success of the project in increasing awareness on the effectiveness of community mobilization in combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic and addressing gender and social issues.

• To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of SoVAA approach in prevention of HIV/AIDS and providing care and support to infected and affected people and to find out the ways of making programme sustainable.

Methodology

Various methodological strategies and tools were used to collect the required data. Field visit to different VDCs of Achham and Doti was conducted. Ample time was spent on discussion with various representatives of SoVAA groups and networks. Interaction and discussions were held with different relevant stakeholders including government as well as non governmental organizations working in the area.

Major Findings

• During the project period, 8324 children and adults became SoVAAs and formed 507 SOVAA groups and their networks at the VDC level. This process of social mobilization through creation of volunteer spirit is a successful approach for mobilizing people against HIV/AIDS prevention and providing care and support to the infected and affected children and their parents.

• The project has enhanced SoVAAs’ knowledge and skills on safer practice to prevent them from being infected and to respond to the threat posed by HIV/AIDS at the community level through training and regular interactions, various awareness activities including role plays, dramas, songs and theatre etc.

• The quality of SoVAA differs from community to community and of girls/women and boys/men. Girls and single women SoVAAs have yet to build sufficient confidence and competence to articulate their issues in the networks.

• The project has been successful in reducing vulnerability of children to HIV/AIDS and minimizing negative impact on children and youth to a greater extent. It has made a marked impact in overcoming stigma and social discrimination. This is evidenced by the increasing number of HIV status disclosure on one hand, and increasing participation of infected people in social gathering without hesitation, on the other.

• The need for care and support is very huge in Achham and Doti due to the increasing number of infected and affected people and OVCs. Obviously it will be extremely difficult for a single organization or the poor community members alone to fulfill their basic needs including food, shelter, medical care, education etc. Although the programme has managed to support OVCs for their education, psychosocial and other immediate need from the project fund and from mobilizing the schools’ sources, a concrete system of support to vulnerable people in the communities by the communities has yet to take place.

• The SMPP’ approach has been proved cost effective also. Average project expenditure per target group member per year is approximately only Rs. 44.68 which is less than 1 US$. However, this does not include the voluntary contribution made by SoVAAs.

• The project is very much in line with the “National HIV/AIDS Strategy”. The SMPP has supported in capacity building of the partners through on-the-job training, quarterly reflection/review meeting mechanism, linkage building, formal training and exposure. However, there are some areas, for example, visioning for network, setting monitoring and evaluation system and mainstreaming GSI.

• The project has generated wealth of information but scattered all-around. They have not been systematically collected and recorded to make the best use of them.

Recommendations

• It is highly recommended to animate early adolescence (10-14 years) group of children to become SoVAA and they be given gender responsive, rights based - life skills training in addition to HIV/AIDS and SoVAA concept.

• Special attention should be given to OVCs’ strategic need – making them self-reliance through long term support for education and livelihood support (IG enterprise, vocational skills etc.).

• PNGOs should address “Chaupadhi” issue more intensely by integrating it into the SoVAA movement for HIV/AIDS prevention.

• It is essential to be clear in the concept, vision, mission, strategy and activities of SoVAA groups and their network. SCNN should continue strengthening the groups and network of single women and PLWHAs to become the district based organization so that they will be able to work effectively for the rights of OVCs.

• It is extremely important to establish evidence based - data collection, reporting and monitoring system at all levels by establishing a systematic M&E system in place through building the capacity of the SCNN staff and the partners in the M&E concepts.

• It is also recommended to strengthen the capacity of PNGOs to become resource/ expert organization to sell expertise to other governmental and non-governmental organizations in the SoVAA approach. Similarly ensure capacity and quality of SoVAA and their groups and networks before phasing out the programme from the area.

Comments of the Organization; if any

Assessment of the capacity of the SOVAAs and their networks along with their potential areas of contributions will be done in 2008. A special research study on the situation assessment of HIV/AIDs in Achham is being designed. Capacity building of different individuals and groups of HIV/AIDS affected and infected people with special focus on children have been incorporated in the plan for 2008. Maintaining sprit of voluntarism and assessment of the capacity of the SOVAAs for quality services are the real challenges for SCNN given the high number of SOVAA. Similarly managing resources and providing basic needs (food, medicine, education, livelihood etc.) for HIV/AIDS infected/affected people including children is also a big issue which is beyond the capacity of SCNN alone. So SCNN has been advocating for collaborative approach with other agencies including the government to work in this issue.