Faith- and Community-Based Partnerships
The U.S. Agency for International Development is a key partner in the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
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© 2001 Sara A. Holtz, Courtesy of Photoshare
In Uganda, the Kamwokya Christian Caring Community offers clinic and laboratory services and care and support for HIV-positive persons. |
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The Grassroots Level of Society
Since its inception, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has partnered with faith- and community-based groups, which continue to play a critical role in the provision of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment. Faith- and community-based groups possess an extensive geographic reach and a well-developed infrastructure in the developing world, and they can often reach populations that lie outside of traditional service delivery networks. They have unmatched staying power, which makes them an invaluable asset in the fight against AIDS. Today, in coordination with the
U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Emergency Plan/PEPFAR), USAID works with more than 800 faith- and community-based organizations in 40 countries.
Expanding the Reach of HIV/AIDS Assistance
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Quick Facts |
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In fiscal year 2005, USAID made 347 awards totaling more than $591 million to faith-based groups.
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New Partners Initiative. On World AIDS Day 2005, President George W. Bush announced the New Partners Initiative, a $200 million program created under the Emergency Plan to provide awards for HIV/AIDS prevention and care in the 15 Emergency Plan focus countries. New partners
strengthen indigenous responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic; are responsive to local culture; build upon family and community structures; and promote healthy behaviors. USAID is an implementing partner of this initiative through its Office of HIV/AIDS.
Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Since 2002, USAID’s Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, established by Presidential Executive Order 13280, has sought to create a level playing field for faith- and community-based organizations to compete for USAID programs with increased funding, technical support, networking, capacity building, informational outreach, workshops, and publications. Through this initiative, USAID is providing access to organizations that have limited knowledge of U.S. Government funding sources.
Some Key USAID Faith- and Community-Based Partnerships
Nigeria: The Church of Christ has an estimated 3 million to 4 million members across 26 states in Nigeria. With this impressive reach and funding from USAID, the church has expanded its social mandate to include HIV/AIDS work in response to the overwhelming community needs. Church staff are actively training health workers; increasing male involvement and peer education; offering voluntary counseling and testing for couples intending to marry; and providing medical screening, sensitization, and advocacy to reduce stigma. In addition, with PEPFAR Plus-Up funding, USAID is expanding faith-based prevention efforts through a platform of religious leaders that brings together Christians, Muslims, and traditional leaders, and mobilizes communities to fight HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. This use of faith-based groups also expands the capacity of the health system to deliver prevention messages.
"USAID learned early in its history that faith-based and community-based organizations are on the forefront of meeting human needs around the world and are excellent implementing partners for development programs because of their dedication to results, their ability to reach the grassroots of society, and their capacity to mobilize societies for positive change."
– Terri Hasdorff, Director USAID Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
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Cambodia: USAID supports Norea Peaceful Children, an orphan “USAID learned early in its history that faith-assistance organization established by Wat Norea Buddhist based and community-based organizations are on monastery, in expanding its care and support to orphans and the forefront of meeting human needs around the other children affected by HIV/AIDS. The organization is also world and are excellent implementing partners reaching out to the community to help people cope with for development programs because of their HIV/AIDS through the teachings of Buddhism, the religion
dedication to results, their ability to reach the of 95 percent of Cambodians.
Ukraine: USAID is supporting International Relief & Development in implementing a community-based approach to fighting HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in the Crimea and Donetsk regions. The program has established networks of volunteers who serve as trainers, instructors, and Community Initiatives peer educators. Since 2004, program events and activities have reached more than 38,000 people in targeted communities with messages of tolerance and acceptance of people living with HIV/AIDS.
USAID’s CORE Initiative and
Community REACH Program
USAID's CORE (Communities Responding to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic) Initiative is a five-year, $50 million
global program support effective inclusive responses by strengthening capacity of community-
faith-based
organizations. CORE's work on three pillars: 1) ensuring organizations have financial resources they need implement multisectoral programs; 2)
increasing organizational technical local partners; 3) networking exchange among stakeholders increased level programming, advocacy, partnerships.
To facilitate the flow of grant funding to organizations playing valuable roles in the struggle against HIV/AIDS, USAID also supports the Community REACH program, which funds local nongovernmental organizations, faith-based organizations, associations of people living with AIDS, and international organizations working at the grassroots level. The program promotes both the scaling up of successful programs and the startup of new programs with the potential for achieving demonstrable impacts in primary prevention and education, voluntary counseling and testing, and care for people living with HIV/AIDS. |
November 2006
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