Working to Advance
Health Equity in Africa

Extending HEARD’s reach through partnership

Partnership is the fundamental element in any development initiative. The recipients of development – those whom we seek to help – have integrity and agency. Their individual, family and community lives are expressions of values. They have their own reckoning of priorities; and more broadly, there is no substitute for true local knowledge. At the same time, every organisation of community has concentrations of power and lines of tension – and there is no suitable way of mediating these except through the careful, painstaking work of gaining trust and developing partnerships.

At times, existing local organisations can be strengthened so that their work can be deepened or extended; in other instances, local knowledge can be supplemented and given an accessible and enduring organisational form. It is both a lesson and a benefit of supporting local knowledge and capacity through partnership that we have a great deal to learn as well as to impart.

Current project partners

ALN

The AIDS Legal Network (ALN) is non-governmental human rights organisation based in Cape Town, South Africa. The ALN is committed to the promotion, protection and realisation of fundamental rights and freedoms of people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS through capacity building, education and training, research, networking, campaign, lobbying and advocacy activities.

ATHENA Network

The ATHENA Network is an international network campaigning to advance gender equity and human rights in the global response to HIV and AIDS. The ATHENA is a global network of individual and institutional members that has been at the forefront of ensuring the centrality of gender equality and human rights in the HIV response since 2006. As of 2015, The ATHENA network is involved in research projects, Stepping Stones and Creating Futures – Randomised Control Trial and Developing a Framework to address the inter-linkages between Gender Based Violence and HIV.

Boston Children’s Hospital

Boston Children’s Hospital embodies a culture of innovation, driving research and clinical advances to new levels. Their commitment to partnerships—across disciplines, with nursing, with Harvard Medical School and other academic medical centers—makes them truly unique. They’ve created programs to take partnerships to the next level, focusing on collaborations that leverage and optimize the unique assets of each partner to yield an arrangement that is greater than the sum of its parts. As of 2015, Boston Children's Hospital is involved in research projects, Development of a parenting intervention to promote effective parenting practices in South Africa and A baseline assessment of the prevalence and determinants of postpartum depression amongst women with young infants in Durban, South Africa.

CAPRISA

CAPRISA is a designated UNAIDS Collaborating Centre for HIV Prevention Research. The main goal of CAPRISA is to undertake globally relevant and locally responsive research that contributes to understanding HIV pathogenesis, prevention and epidemiology as well as the links between tuberculosis and AIDS care. As of 2015, CAPRISA is involved in the projects, HIV Incidence Provincial Surveillance System (HIPSS): A longitudinal study to monitor HIV incidence trends in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and A Prospective Cohort Study to assess Behavioural Disinhibition following Medical Circumcision in Youth and Adult Males in Vulindlela, KwaZulu Natal.

Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. As of 2015, Columbia University is involved in the research project, A Randomised Controlled Trial to Evaluate Adding Self-Administered Oral HIV Testing as a Choice in Clinic and Non-Clinic Settings to Increase HIV Testing Uptake Among Truck Drivers in Kenya.

CUNY

CUNY has a legislatively mandated mission to be “of vital importance as a vehicle for the upward mobility of the disadvantaged in the City of New York … ensuring equal access and opportunity” to students, faculty and staff “from all ethnic and racial groups.” CUNY promotes and supports first-rate research that enhances their educational mission and stimulates economic development. As of 2015, CUNY is involved in the research project, A Randomised Controlled Trial to Evaluate Adding Self-Administered Oral HIV Testing as a Choice in Clinic and Non-Clinic Settings to Increase HIV Testing Uptake Among Truck Drivers in Kenya.

Eduardo Mondlane University

The Eduardo Mondlane University strives to be an institution of excellence in the context of education, science, culture and technology, educating for life that enables professionals and assuming responsibilities in the process of innovation and knowledge transfer and sustainable development. The Eduardo Mondlane University strives for integration and affirmation in the worldwide scientific community and as agent and object of change and transformation in society. As of 2015, Eduardo Mondlane University is involved in the research project, South African Prevention and Treatment Intervention Study (SAPTIS).

FACT

Family Aids Caring Trust (FACT) is a Christian national development NGO based in Mutare, Zimbabwe. It implements sustainable development initiatives to improve people's livelihood, Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), HIV Prevention, HIV and AIDS care and support as well as health activities that complement Ministry of Health and Child Welfare. Established in 1987, FACT is the country's first AIDS service organization (WO 17/89). FACT implements projects through partnering with communities and other players in development and public health.
As of 2015, FACT is involved in the research project, South African Prevention and Treatment Intervention Study (SAPTIS).

Harvard Medical School

Harvard Medical School has prepared generations of physicians for leadership roles in education, research and policy and to care for patients with integrity, skill and compassion. For over 200 years, the School has influenced and shaped the design of medical school education throughout the world. The HMS mission to alleviate human suffering caused by disease extends to all members of society and to all corners of the globe. As of 2015, Harvard Medical School is involved in the research project, A baseline assessment of the prevalence and determinants of postpartum depression amongst women with young infants in Durban, South Africa.

Jive Media Africa

Jive Media Africa creates innovative, cutting edge communications; grabbing attention and conveying crucial messages in accessible ways. An award-winning multi-media company, Jive Media Africa produces media strategies and products that challenge and inform, making a difference in the areas of Science and Technology (Jive Science), Biodiversity Conservation (Jive Earth), Children in the context of HIV/ AIDS (Jive Children) and Human Rights (Jive People). As of 2015, Jive Media is involved in the research project, Development of a parenting intervention to promote effective parenting practices in South Africa.

MatCH Research

MatCH Research aims to answer priority questions that will translate into improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes through expanding access to appropriate and acceptable contraceptive, HIV prevention and related health technologies and services.

Norad

Norad is the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. Norad is a directorate under the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its main purpose is to ensure that Norwegian development aid funds are spent in the best possible way, and to report on what works and what does not work. Most of the Norwegian development aid is managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian foreign missions.

North Star Alliance

North Star Alliance works at the crossroads of disease and mobility to ensure that highly-mobile populations, especially truck drivers and their direct and indirect contacts have access to basic health services.
As of 2015, North Star Alliance is involved in research projects, South African Prevention and Treatment Intervention Study (SAPTIS); A Randomised Controlled Trial to Evaluate Adding Self-Administered Oral HIV Testing as a Choice in Clinic and Non-Clinic Settings to Increase HIV Testing Uptake Among Truck Drivers in Kenya and A baseline assessment of the prevalence and determinants of postpartum depression amongst women with young infants in Durban, South Africa.

QuadPara Association of KZN

The QuadPara Association of KZN is an autonomous Non-Profit Organisation and a Public Benefit Organisation that is responsible for all its own development, project, and administrative funding. Their aim is to deliver life changing services to persons with severe mobility impairments in KwaZulu-Natal, by delivering projects that their donor / CSI partners can be proud of. As of 2015, QuadPara is involved in the research project, Breaking the Silence: Accommodating Young People with Disabilities in Sexuality Education through Sensitising Educators in Southern Africa.

Queens University

Queen's is one of Canada's leading universities with an international reputation for scholarship, social purpose, and spirit. As of 2015, Queens University is involved in the research project, Sisonke CARES.

Regional Interagency Task Team on Children Affected by AIDS

Children affected by AIDS have the same rights to essential services as non-HIV-affected children, but HIV often threatens their access to services because it impoverishes families and reduces the parents’ ability to care for their children as effectively as they would like. Efforts are required to ensure that vulnerable children have access to social services and to ensure that these services are HIV–sensitive.
HEARD is the chair of RIATT-ESA’s (Regional Inter-agency Task Team on Children and AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa) Social Protection Working Group. The SP group has been active globally on generating knowledge on children sensitive social protection approaches and increasing the visibility of the plight of children (via webinars and academic and policy meetings). In 2016, the SPWG produced a report and paper on children and HIV forms of social protection and hosted a regional webinar on challenges associated with the implementation of children sensitive SP programmes.

Salamander Trust

Salamander aims to protect, promote and enhance the health and rights of people particularly, but not exclusively, marginalised by societies worldwide as a result of their gender, HIV status or sexual and reproductive health. Salamander seeks to promote sexual and reproductive health with HIV prevention, care and support, within a holistic, gender-based human rights framework. As of 2015, Salamander Trust is involved in research projects, Stepping Stones and Creating Futures – Randomised Control Trial and Developing a Framework to address the inter-linkages between Gender Based Violence and HIV.

SAMRC

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) aims to promote the improvement of the health and the quality of life of the population of our country through research, development and technology transfer. The scope of the SAMRC’s research includes basic laboratory investigations, clinical research and public health studies. Research at the SAMRC focuses on the ten highest causes of death in South Africa and includes TB, HIV, chronic diseases, alcohol and drug abuse, and women’s health.

Sida

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, works with research cooperation in a number of countries and through support to various organisations. Support from Sida is part of the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 2 (EDCTP2) programme supported by the European Union.

Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University is one of the top research universities in South Africa with 10 faculties over 4 campuses. A diverse and welcoming campus community assists SU in expanding its knowledge base, strengthening its status as a leading institution, and remaining an active role player in building a democratic South Africa. It also ensures that the University delivers critical and active graduates, well able to take their place in a multicultural civil society. As of 2015, Stellenbosch University is involved in research projects, Development of a parenting intervention to promote effective parenting practices in South Africa and A baseline assessment of the prevalence and determinants of postpartum depression amongst women with young infants in Durban, South Africa.

TLAC

The Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre to End Violence Against Women is a non-profit organisation that promotes the right of women to live their lives free from the fear or experience of violence. Tshwaranang's specific mission is to uphold the right to justice for survivors of gender based violence. As of 2015, TLAC is involved in the research project, Understanding Barriers and Opportunities To The Use Of Medico-Legal Evidence In The Prosecution Of Sexual Violence In South Africa.

UNAIDS

UNAIDS is an innovative partnership that leads and inspires the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. The goal of UNAIDS is to lead and inspire the world in Getting to zero: zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-deaths.

University of Gothenburg, Sweden

The University of Gothenburg meets societal challenges with diverse knowledge. 37 000 students and 6 000 employees make the University a large and inspiring place to work and study, with a continuous flow of new knowledge and ideas.

Strong research and attractive study programmes attract scientists and students from all around the world. The University of Gothenburg is environmentally certified and works actively for sustainable development. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University of Gothenburg contributes to a better future.

University of KwaZulu-natal

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is a leading institution of higher learning on the African continent. UKZN is a multi-campus, residential, teaching and research-led university located in the picturesque province of KwaZulu-Natal. The University has a proud and rich heritage of academic excellence. UKZN is passionate about teaching and learning. Their motto: Every Student Matters transcends the social, cultural and academic discourse across the disciplines. The University encourages and embraces diversity in all facets of the student experience.

University of Witwatersrand

Wits, a world-class research university in Africa, is renowned for its commitment to academic and research excellence. It contributes to the global knowledge economy and local transformation through the generation of high level, scarce skills and innovative research. At the forefront of a changing society, Wits is an engaged institution, dedicated to advancing the public good. As of 2015, Wits is involved in the research project, A baseline assessment of the prevalence and determinants of postpartum depression amongst women with young infants in Durban, South Africa.