Building Capacity to Deliver a Volunteer-based Nationwide HIV Prevention Program

for Kenyan Youth: The Evolution of a Collaborative Partnership

Augusta MuthiganiNational Executive Secretary, Commission for Education & Religious Education

Kenya Episcopal Conference - Catholic Secretariat

Satellite Session on Twinning s XIX International AIDS Conference s Washington, DC s 25 July 2012

Presentation Overview

• Partnership Overview

• Key Successes and Programme Overview

• Evolution of the Partnership Since 2005

• Lessons Learned

• Recommendations for Capacity Building Partnerships

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Partnership Overview

25 KEC Dioceses throughout Kenya

More than 1,611 KEC Schools in Kenya

DePaul University

KEC National Team

AIHA Twinning Center

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

PEPFAR(through CDC/Kenya)

• Largest Catholic University in the USA

• Multi-disciplinary team of faculty and staff who provide technical assistance in various areas:

– HIV/AIDS interventions for youth and adolescents

– Health communication– Organizational communication and

development – Mass media and public relations– Monitoring and evaluation– International development

• Faith-Based Organization (Catholic Church) with infrastructure spanning all of Kenya

• Specifically within the Commission for Education and Religious Education

• Works to build capacity for schools, teachers, school managers, and field personnel in various areas

• Pastoral care and character formation of learners is a major focus

• Administers more than 6,000 primary schools across Kenya - roughly 30% of all Kenyan primary schools

The Partners

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Activities are Nationwide in Focus

The partnership is currently implementing programs in 25 of Kenya’s 26 Catholic Dioceses thanks to the support of the American people through PEPFAR and CDC/Kenya.

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Key Partnership Successes: 2005-2012Since 2005, the partnership has been able to:

– Develop a school-based HIV prevention programme for youth between the ages of 11 and 14• Implemented in 1,611 primary schools across Kenya• Trained more than 3,724 teachers• Reached more than 536,734 Kenyan youth

– Adapted an evidence-based CDC-developed parenting and HIV prevention intervention for parents and guardians of youth • Reached more than 2,246 parents and guardians

– Developed and delivered weekly radio programming to reinforce key HIV prevention messages

– Built the capacity of Diocesan staff in monitoring and evaluation

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Programming Overview

ABY

MLRC FMP

“Love Life, Talk, and Live!”

ABY - “Abstinence and Behaviour Change for Youth” MLRC - “Making Life’s Responsible Choices” FMP - “Families Matter! Programme”

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Complementary HIV Programming

Radio Waumini(Community)

FMP (Family)

MLRC(Individual)

Together, each component targets youth individually, within their families, and in the larger community with evidence-based or evidence-informed and culturally appropriate HIV prevention programming.

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

A Volunteer-driven Partnership

• Leverages over 400,000 volunteer hours a year from KEC school teachers and administrators, KEC religious personnel, and DePaul faculty, staff, and students

• This level of volunteerism is sustained by:– Working within existing KEC and DePaul infrastructure – Partnering with the public sector (Ministry of Education) – Establishing meaningful professional development opportunities

for volunteer teachers– Utilizing a Training-of-Trainer (TOT) model– Using funds for administrative support and coordination– Focusing professional volunteer efforts on capacity building

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Ongoing Partnership Activities

• Semi-Annual Quality Assurance o Refresher trainings for TOTs and

teachers

• Monthly Technical Assistanceo Conference callso School visits

• Weekly Meetingso KEC team meets weeklyo DPU team meets weeklyo KEC monthly visits to schools o KEC-Diocesan quarterly meetings

on programmatic and financial issues

• Annual Planningo Workplan Development o Financial training

• Quarterly Exchangeso Regular review and revision of

M&E tools o Capacity-building workshops as

neededo Quarterly Programmatic and

Financial Reports

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Importance of Partnership Exchanges • Since 2005, the partnership has conducted a total of 26

quarterly exchanges to Chicago, USA, or Nairobi, Kenya, assisting with task and relational functioning.

• Exchanges to Kenya allow for the provision of hands-on technical assistance, trainings on relevant emerging programmatic issues, and monitoring and evaluation site visits.

• Exchanges to Chicago allow for technical assistance and capacity building workshops from expert faculty and staff across the entire University.

• Exchanges to Chicago also allow for sharing experience and observations from schools implementing related programs.

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Capacity Building

Workshops in Kenya,

August 2008

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Monitoring and Evaluation Site Visit to Kenya, March 2011

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Partnership Exchange

to DePaul University in Chicago, May 2011

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Evolution of Partnership Since 2005

• 2005-2006: Development and Piloting of MLRC

• 2006-Present: Implementation, Scale-Up, and Monitoring of MLRC

• 2007-2008: Adaptation of FMP

• 2008-2009: Piloting of FMP

• 2009-Present: Outcome Evaluation of MLRC is due in September, 2012

• 2010-Present: Implementation, Scale-Up, and Monitoring of FMP

• 2011-Present: Refining and Revising MLRC

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Results of MLRC Implementation to Date

Year 2006 Year 2007 Year 2008 Year 2009 Year 2010 Year 2011

Boys 4,796 13,285 59,122 51,429 56,779 46,499

Girls 5,823 15,294 62,232 50,940 67,512 52,697

4,796

13,285

59,122

51,429

56,779

46,499

5,823

15,294

62,232

50,940

67,512

52,697

MLRC(ABY) Pupils Trends 2006 To 2012

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

MLRC Programme in Numbers2005 through March 2012

Boys Girls Total Pupils• Year 2006 4,796 5,823 10,619 • Year 2007 13,285 15,294 28,579 • Year 2008 59,122 62,232 121,353 • Year 2009 51,429 50,940 102,369 • Year 2010 56,779 67,512 124,291 • Year 2011 46,499 52,697 99,196 • Year 2012 23,398 26,929 50,327

Cumulative Totals 255,308 281,427 536,734

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

Lessons Learned

The partnership has evolved over time:• The initial focus was on quantity, but now there is a focus on quality

and fidelity to the successful programs developed jointly by partners• We began with one program, but others evolved out of community

needs

There were various unanticipated accomplishments for both partners that have enriched both institutions:• Partners developed the capacity to respond quickly and effectively to

changes in the epidemic, funder requirements and priorities, and changing political, social, cultural, and religious realities in Kenya

• Partners developed the capacity to update implementers (teachers) remotely on the latest trends, information on HIV, etc.

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

There are many benefits from having a long-term capacity-building twinning partnership!

Lessons Learned

o The complexities involved in international HIV prevention call for continued multidisciplinary collaborative efforts

o Multiple perspectives on the contributing factors associated with the HIV/AIDS epidemic help to expand knowledge and skills beyond the confines of any one discipline or country of origin

o They can promote program sustainability by building capacity in multiple areas, simultaneously

o Sharing, utilization, and exchange of various skills that enhance the quality of program content and delivery

XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC , 25 July 2012

There are many benefits from having a multidisciplinary twinning partnership!

Recommendations for Capacity-building Partnerships

• Exchanges to/from both institutions are important for task and relational functioning of the partnership

• Maintaining constant communication is essential (regular tele-conferences, e-mail, etc.)

• Volunteerism can be harnessed, but requires adequate administrative support

• Multi-disciplinary teams are most effective

• Direct funder involvement helps ensure quality programming and administration

• Tapping into the expertise of faculty is beneficial in terms of skills and cost effectiveness

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Acknowledgements

The American International Health Alliance (AIHA), HIV/AIDS Twinning CenterJames Smith, Rebecca Sutton, Kathryn Utan, Kelly Wolfe

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Dr. Jennifer Galbraith (Kenya), Dr. Kim Miller (Atlanta)

DePaul University Dr. Gary W. Harper, Dr. Alexandra G. Murphy, Leah C. Neubauer, Andrew J. Riplinger

Kenya Episcopal Conference – Catholic Secretariat (KEC-CS)Rt. Rev. Maurice Crowley , Rev. Fr. Vincent Wambugu, Paul Muthiani, Julius Ruto,

David Simiyu, Samuel Waweru

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We would like to acknowledge our US Government funders at the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), along with the following people for their

work in making this twinning partnership possible:

Asante Sana!