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ABOUT SAATHII

Advocacy | Networking | Information Dissemination | Technical and Financial Assistance

Networking

SAATHII provides networking to government, UN agencies and civil society members - non-government, community-based, faith-based, private sector agencies and positive networks – as part of its capacity building efforts. SAATHII provides opportunities for networking through satellite meetings at HIV/AIDS Conferences, HIV/AIDS Service Directory, regional level networks, and NGO forums.

Satellite Meetings at HsIV/AIDS Conferences

The Problem: One of the biggest challenges to a concerted and multi-pronged fight against HIV/AIDS has been the lack of a common platform to bring together diverse stakeholders. National and International HIV/AIDS meetings often have separate forums for policy-makers, funders, scientists, HIV/AIDS activists, and government and non-government representatives. While these separate forums allow for homogenous groups of stakeholders to come together, they also result in a fragmented and uncoordinated national approach against the epidemic.

The Project: Since 2000, SAATHII has worked with close to 200 organizations on an ongoing basis to facilitate satellite meetings at HIV/AIDS conferences in India and outside. The aim is to bring together all involved in HIV/AIDS work in India and to provide physical and political space for multi-sectoral dialogue, networking and collaborations. The International AIDS Conferences in Durban, South Africa (2000), Barcelona, Spain (2002) and Bangkok, Thailand (2004); the Global Strategies Meeting on Mother to Child Transmission in Kampala, Uganda (2001), and the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) in New York, USA (2001), have been venues for key satellite meetings facilitated by SAATHII.

SAATHII's Role: SAATHII serves as organizer and facilitator for these satellite meetings.

Project Impact: SAATHII successfully brings together diverse constituencies through these satellite meetings. Constituencies include key leadership from Indian NGOs and government bodies, PLWHA groups, Indian and international academia, and international agencies like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Canadian International Development Agency; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation; Family Health International; International AIDS Society, Sweden; Population Council – Horizons; UNAIDS; UNDP; UNICEF; USAID; WHO and World Bank. Indian and foreign pharmaceutical firms are also represented. Such multi-sectoral dialogue has proved useful in drawing attention to issues of care, support and treatment.

Project Funder: Conference Organizers, SAATHII and the John M. Lloyd Foundation, USA.

HIV/AIDS Service Directory ( SAATHII RED RIBBON PAGES, Edition 2003)

The Problem: There are over 1500 agencies in India providing diverse services in HIV/AIDS. Networking is needed for these agencies to learn of each others services and to make referrals to other services. Previously existing directories of NGO services were either restricted to specific regions or to NGOs funded by specific agencies.

The Project: Released in 2003, the comprehensive HIV/AIDS Services Directory consists of information on more than 1300 implementing, policy and funding agencies working against the HIV epidemic in India. This directory lists services by state, district, service type and target population. The electronic version of the directory is in searchable format and is available on www.saathii.org and other select websites. A 2004 edition of the directory is under development.

SAATHII's Role: SAATHII serves as project coordinator.

Project Impact: As India's first national directory of HIV/AIDS services, the RED RIBBON PAGES is used by 1,000 NGOs, who serve ~ 200,000 Indians infected or at-risk of HIV/AIDS. It is also used by 20 PLWHA groups and 30 donor and international agencies. This directory facilitates NGO partnerships, helps donors in short-listing promising programs, and enables access to prevention, care, support and treatment services. It has received wide coverage through news reports in The Telegraph, Calcutta and all editions of the Times of India.

Project Funder: The John M. Lloyd Foundation, USA; UNAIDS India and Global Strategies for HIV Prevention, USA.

Regional Level Networks

The Problem: Several community-based organizations of males who have sex with males (MSM) exist in India. These organizations work in the areas of sexual health, awareness raising and advocacy for HIV/AIDS prevention. There is a strong need for such agencies to network with each other at a regional scale to share resources and coordinate programmatic activities over a wide area.

The Project: - In May 2003, SAATHII catalyzed the formation of the first regional-level network of community organizations working with sexual health and HIV/AIDS prevention among MSM in the state of West Bengal – the MANAS Bangla Network. In addition, it has helped strengthen the network through technical assistance in program conceptualization and implementation.

SAATHII's Role: SAATHII provides technical assistance for network formation and program development.

Project Impact: The Network completed a state-funded sexual health needs assessment among MSM in West Bengal in the same year and in 2004 was awarded funding for an STD/HIV/AIDS intervention targeted at MSM in West Bengal. This intervention will be the first of its kind in the state and aims to reach more than 8,000 MSM. It is funded by the West Bengal State AIDS Prevention & Control Society.

Project Funder: Elton John AIDS Foundation, UK has part-funded this project.

NGO Forums

The Problem: Large urban areas like Chennai contain a high density of non-governmental and community-based agencies providing diverse services in HIV/AIDS. Often these agencies carry out their activities in isolation, which results in duplication of efforts and lack of knowledge of other resources available in the city.

The Project: In 2004, SAATHII facilitates monthly NGO Forums that bring together staff from local agencies to network in a non-hierarchical and informal environment that enhances knowledge and resource sharing.

SAATHII's Role: SAATHII serves as organizer and facilitator for NGO Forums.

Project Impact: SAATHII has successfully networked over 30 NGOs in Chennai and neighboring areas. In addition, each NGO forum has brought together key resource persons working in different technical areas and enabled networking between these resource persons and the NGOs.