Training course on Social Protection for People Living with HIV/AIDS

Training Course on Social Protection for People Living with HIV/AIDS

Introduction

Social Protection for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) is a critical and often overlooked component of a comprehensive response to the epidemic. Beyond medical interventions, PLHIV and their families face profound socio-economic vulnerabilities, including poverty, food insecurity, loss of livelihoods, stigma, and discrimination, which can severely impede access to and adherence to treatment and care. Designing and implementing social protection systems that are sensitive to these unique challenges is essential for improving health outcomes, enhancing well-being, and fostering dignity for those affected by HIV/AIDS. This specialized field moves beyond a purely health-centric approach to integrate holistic support, recognizing that social and economic security are fundamental to a successful HIV response.

Training Course on Social Protection for People Living with HIV/AIDS is meticulously designed to equip with the advanced theoretical insights and intensive practical tools necessary to excel in Social Protection for People Living with HIV/AIDS. We will delve into the complex interplay of HIV/AIDS with poverty, gender, and stigma, master the intricacies of designing inclusive social protection interventions, and explore cutting-edge approaches to targeting, linking with health services, and addressing discrimination. A significant focus will be placed on understanding legal and policy frameworks, fostering multi-sectoral coordination, ensuring confidentiality and human rights, and navigating the practical challenges of implementing sensitive and effective programs. By integrating interdisciplinary perspectives, analyzing real-world complex case studies, and engaging in hands-on design and simulation exercises, attendees will develop the strategic acumen to confidently champion and implement social protection for PLHIV, fostering unparalleled health equity, dignity, and social justice.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Analyze the fundamental socio-economic impacts of HIV/AIDS on individuals, households, and communities.
2. Comprehend the strategic importance and potential of social protection in the comprehensive HIV/AIDS response.
3. Master the design and implementation of diverse social protection instruments tailored for PLHIV and affected households.
4. Develop expertise in identifying and targeting PLHIV and vulnerable groups while ensuring confidentiality and human rights.
5. Formulate strategies for effectively linking social protection with health and HIV services.
6. Understand the critical role of social protection in addressing stigma, discrimination, and gender-based violence (GBV) related to HIV/AIDS.
7. Implement robust approaches to social protection for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) affected by HIV/AIDS.
8. Explore key data management, monitoring, and evaluation considerations for PLHIV social protection programs.
9. Identify and analyze relevant policy, legal, and institutional frameworks for social protection in the HIV/AIDS response.
10. Explore various financing mechanisms and resource mobilization strategies for social protection for PLHIV.
11. Develop strategies for fostering multi-stakeholder coordination and partnerships with PLHIV networks and civil society.
12. Design a preliminary social protection strategy for PLHIV in a specific national or sub-national context.
13. Examine global best practices and lessons learned from successful social protection initiatives for PLHIV.

Target Audience

This course is essential for professionals working on social protection and HIV/AIDS:

1. Social Protection Policymakers & Program Managers: Designing and implementing social safety nets.
2. HIV/AIDS Program Specialists: Working on prevention, treatment, care, and support.
3. Health Sector Professionals: Involved in public health and clinical care for PLHIV.
4. Human Rights Advocates: Focusing on the rights and dignity of PLHIV.
5. Government Officials: From ministries of social welfare, health, finance, and planning.
6. UN Agency Representatives: From UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, WFP, ILO.
7. Civil Society Organizations & PLHIV Networks: Implementing programs and advocating for PLHIV.
8. Researchers & M&E Specialists: Studying the impact of interventions on PLHIV.

Course Duration: 10 Days

Course Modules

Module 1: Understanding HIV/AIDS and its Socio-economic Impacts

• Global and national epidemiology of HIV/AIDS: prevalence, incidence, and key populations.
• Analyze the profound socio-economic impacts on individuals, households, and communities (e.g., income loss, food insecurity, asset depletion).
• Discuss the intersectionality of HIV/AIDS with poverty, gender, age, and other forms of vulnerability.
• Explore the specific challenges faced by PLHIV: discrimination, stigma, healthcare costs, reduced productivity.
• Emphasize the need for a comprehensive, multi-sectoral response beyond purely medical interventions.

Module 2: The Role of Social Protection in the HIV/AIDS Response

• Explain the strategic importance of social protection in addressing the vulnerabilities of PLHIV.
• Discuss how social protection can improve health outcomes, reduce poverty, and mitigate stigma.
• Analyze its contribution to HIV prevention, treatment adherence (e.g., Anti-Retroviral Therapy - ART), and holistic care.
• Explore the linkages between social protection and human rights for PLHIV, including the right to health and social security.
• Overview of global recommendations and evidence for social protection in HIV/AIDS (e.g., UNAIDS, ILO).

Module 3: Social Protection Instruments for PLHIV and Affected Households

• Cash Transfers: Designing conditional or unconditional cash transfers for PLHIV (e.g., for nutrition, transport to clinics, school fees for children).
• In-Kind Support: Providing food assistance, nutritional supplements, or other essential goods.
• Health Protection: Facilitating access to health insurance, fee waivers, and direct support for ART adherence.
• Livelihood Support: Implementing public works programs, skills training, and micro-grants for PLHIV and their caregivers.
• Social Services: Ensuring access to psychosocial support, legal aid, housing support, and other complementary services.

Module 4: Targeting and Reaching PLHIV and Vulnerable Groups

• Challenges of identifying and targeting PLHIV due to pervasive stigma and privacy concerns.
• Strategies for inclusive targeting that respect confidentiality, human rights, and "do no harm" principles.
• Leveraging existing social registries and health information systems for identification (with robust safeguards).
• Discuss community-based identification and outreach mechanisms, often through PLHIV networks and civil society.
• Addressing the specific vulnerabilities of key populations (e.g., sex workers, people who inject drugs, LGBTQ+ individuals) and their families.

Module 5: Linking Social Protection with Health and HIV Services

• The critical importance of establishing strong referral pathways between social protection programs and health/HIV services.
• Strategies for promoting ART adherence and retention in care through social protection incentives and support.
• Facilitating access to HIV testing, prevention services (e.g., PrEP), and comprehensive care.
• Developing effective coordination mechanisms between social protection ministries/agencies and health ministries/HIV programs.
• Case studies of successful integrated health-social protection models for PLHIV globally.

Module 6: Addressing Stigma, Discrimination, and Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

• Analyzing the profound role of social protection in mitigating stigma and discrimination against PLHIV.
• Designing social protection programs to address gendered vulnerabilities and GBV risks for women and girls living with HIV.
• Promoting safe spaces, confidential feedback mechanisms, and accessible grievance redress for PLHIV.
• Engaging communities, traditional leaders, and religious figures in challenging discriminatory norms and practices.
• Advocating for legal and policy reforms to protect the rights of PLHIV and combat discrimination.

Module 7: Social Protection for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Affected by HIV/AIDS

• Understanding the unique and compounded vulnerabilities of OVC due to parental illness or death from HIV/AIDS.
• Designing child-sensitive social protection programs specifically for OVC (e.g., child grants, school fee waivers, educational support).
• Supporting caregivers, foster families, and kinship care arrangements through social protection interventions.
• Linking OVC to education, health, nutrition, and child protection services for holistic development.
• Case studies of comprehensive OVC support programs and their long-term impact.

Module 8: Data, Monitoring, and Evaluation for PLHIV Social Protection

• Developing robust M&E frameworks for social protection programs targeting PLHIV.
• Challenges in collecting sensitive data related to HIV status and ensuring strict confidentiality and ethical protocols.
• Developing appropriate indicators to track health outcomes, poverty reduction, treatment adherence, and stigma reduction.
• Strategies for ethical data management, privacy, security, and responsible data sharing.
• Using M&E findings to inform program adjustments, policy advocacy, and demonstrate impact.

Module 9: Policy, Legal, and Institutional Frameworks

• Identifying and analyzing national policies and legal frameworks related to HIV/AIDS, social protection, and human rights.
• Discussing the alignment of national policies with international guidelines and commitments (e.g., UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, SDGs).
• Advocating for policy reforms that ensure universal access to social protection and non-discrimination for PLHIV.
• Strengthening institutional mandates, capacities, and coordination mechanisms between relevant ministries (e.g., social welfare, health, justice).
• Exploring the role of national AIDS councils and social protection ministries in joint planning.

Module 10: Financing Social Protection for PLHIV

• Exploring various financing mechanisms for social protection programs targeting PLHIV.
• Discussing the role of national budgets, global health funds (e.g., Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria), and bilateral donor support.
• Strategies for ensuring predictable, sustainable, and diversified funding for long-term support.
• Analyzing the cost-effectiveness and economic benefits of social protection investments in the HIV response.
• Advocating for increased and more efficient allocation of resources for social protection for PLHIV.

Module 11: Multi-Stakeholder Coordination and Partnerships

• Fostering effective coordination and collaboration between social protection actors, health ministries, civil society organizations, and PLHIV networks.
• Developing clear roles, responsibilities, and communication protocols for integrated programming.
• Building strong, trust-based partnerships with community-based organizations and associations of PLHIV.
• Strategies for ensuring meaningful participation and leadership of PLHIV in program design, implementation, and monitoring.
• Lessons learned from multi-sectoral collaboration in the HIV response.

Module 12: Future Directions and Transformative Impact

• Exploring emerging trends and innovations in social protection for PLHIV (e.g., digital health solutions, adaptive social protection for shocks).
• Discussing the role of social protection in achieving epidemic control and ultimately ending AIDS as a public health threat.
• Analyzing the intersection of HIV/AIDS with climate change, migration, and other complex shocks, and the need for integrated responses.
• Advocating for universal social protection as a key strategy for health equity and social justice for all.
• Developing a personal or organizational action plan for advancing social protection for PLHIV.

 

Training Methodology

• Interactive Workshops: Facilitated discussions, group exercises, and problem-solving activities.
• Case Studies: Real-world examples to illustrate successful community-based surveillance practices.
• Role-Playing and Simulations: Practice engaging communities in surveillance activities.
• Expert Presentations: Insights from experienced public health professionals and community leaders.
• Group Projects: Collaborative development of community surveillance plans.
• Action Planning: Development of personalized action plans for implementing community-based surveillance.
• Digital Tools and Resources: Utilization of online platforms for collaboration and learning.
• Peer-to-Peer Learning: Sharing experiences and insights on community engagement.
• Post-Training Support: Access to online forums, mentorship, and continued learning resources.

 

Register as a group from 3 participants