Somalia HIV/AIDS Prevention, Advocacy and Communication Framework

Executive Summary

The aim of this report is to support community based HIV/AIDS responses by providing information that will lead to the development of new and existing communication interventions. Included is a summary of the most relevant communication or reproductive health research available from all zones of Somalia in the last four years. An index of HIV/AIDS global interventions is listed according to different target groups and activities with references to websites for more information. Footnotes are listed throughout the text to offer further resources to points of interest.

The HIV/AIDS Prevention, Advocacy and Communication Framework for Somalia has been developed for cross-cutting communications support to the priority strategies identified in the "Strategic Framework for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS and STIs [sexually transmitted infections] within Somali Populations." The Communication Framework addresses HIV/AIDS advocacy, training, IEC [information, education, and communication] material, and capacity building needs for Somali populations. The Communication Framework is a support tool for development partners, local authorities and civil society and ultimately a mechanism to enhance community based HIV/AIDS responses among Somali populations.

The HIV/AIDS Communication Inventory is a matrix modelled after the SACB [Somalia
Aid Coordination Body] project matrix with information about the HIV/AIDS advocacy and education activities currently underway or planned for implementation among Somali populations in the three zones within the next year. This matrix will be integrated into the existing Somalia Aid Coordination Body website where it will be updated as part of the SACB project matrix.

This HIV/AIDS Communication Framework report incorporates an analysis of the lessons learned from existing and previous projects, while providing recommendations for a series of approaches that will address HIV/AIDS communication among different Somali populations. As a general contextual overview it provides a summary of HIV and STI awareness in Somalia, the education and information channels currently available and the constraints of those channels. In advance of the HIV/AIDS Kink Aware Professionals (KAP) study the framework offers a basic profile of the groups vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. It recommends approaches for addressing the context of the groups through highlighting lessons learnt and successful global interventions.

A priority message/issues section developed with zonal bodies and groups based in the three zones provides a basis for a coordinated message strategy. Included are explanations of why messages have been prioritized and the current response of the Somali population to the information. The message strategy should eventually be built into the content of all recommended capacity building and IEC material.

The recommendations for the advocacy strategy, capacity building and International Electrotechnical Commission material are different for the various target groups and agents of change to be involved. However two adaptable tools should be developed to respond to the overall needs and serve as a mechanism to ensure greater overall consistency of all HIV/AIDS communication in Somalia. The two tools are a targeted pack of IEC materials and a video TOT training series for ‘how to' communicate messages about HIV/AIDS developed specifically with and for Somali populations. These tools should ensure a high standard of HIV/AIDS Training of Trainers (TOT) training, should build successive understanding of messages, and provide the resources to support community based approaches.