Working to Advance
Health Equity in Africa

Capacity development in a global human rights and health programme

Capacity development in a global human rights and health programme

In many regions around the globe, networks of key populations – defined as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender persons, sex workers of all genders, and people who use drugs- have formed to establish programmes and provide critical services. These are to promote sexual and reproductive health and to advocate for the respect of human rights and the achievement of justice and dignity for all.

Aids Fonds, an international non-governmental organisation based in the Netherlands, has been a vital partner in these efforts. Through the Bridging the Gaps programme, Aidsfonds, in collaboration with eight global networks, provides funding and capacity development support to over 90 key population-led organisations across three continents and in fifteen countries. The aim of the programme is to equip key population-led entities and the communities they support, to increase the fulfillment of human rights, to improve their sexual and reproductive health, and to strengthen individuals and communities to hold governments and other duty bearers to account for promoting their health and rights.

HEARD developed both research reports and briefs on the basis of the case study findings among Bridging the Gaps country partners. These partners were Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe, based in Harare; Women’s Organisation Network for Human Rights Advocacy (WONETHA), a sex-worker-led network based in Kampala, Uganda; AIDS Foundation East West- Tajikistan, (AFEW) which works with injection drug users and operates from Dushanbe, Tajikistan and Youth Vision, which also works with injection drug users in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The main research report presents the findings of the entire research project and discusses a number of good practices for capacity development that could guide future efforts for the Bridging the Gaps Alliance members or a similar group of partners working to advance the health and rights of key populations.

 

Resources

Research Reports

Main Research Report – English

Nepal Case Study Report – English

Tajikistan Case Study Report – English – Russian – Tajik

Uganda Case Study Report – English

Zimbabwe Case Study Report – English

Research Briefs

Nepal Research Brief – English Nepali

Tajikistan Research Brief – EnglishRussianTajik

Uganda Research Brief – EnglishLuganda

Zimbabwe Research Brief – English

Academic publication

Global study – English