The implementing mechanism has the following two goals in the prevention technical area: 1) To promote behavior change, including among most at risk populations to reduce the estimated number of new infections by 2013; and 2) To support the development of institutional capacities of HIV-related service organizations and agencies to provide requisite prevention services to most at risk populations. These goals are also closely related to the Caribbean Strategic Framework objectives of "Reducing vulnerability to sexual transmission of HIV"; "Establishing comprehensive, gender sensitive and targeted prevention programs for children (9-14) and youth (15-24); " and "Strengthening health and social systems and improve infrastructure to provide comprehensive and integrated HIV services."

Peace Corps will design and implement behavior change interventions for MARP, including at-risk young people who are already sexually active and engaging in risky behaviors. Peace Corps Volunteers will actively engage youth as peer educators and partner with organizations to implement youth friendly initiatives. Small grant funding will be made available to support community-based initiatives demonstrating the potential to impact key behaviors impacting sexual vulnerability to HIV infection. Peace Corps has also developed new programs that focus on reducing the risk of HIV infection among women and girls and addressing harmful male norms. Activities will take place in small communities where Volunteers are placed in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica, Suriname and Belize.

Peace Corps activities are linked to the achievement of Goal 1, Strategic Objective 1.1 of the Partnership Framework: Build human, technical and institutional capacity in partner countries to effectively develop, implement, scale-up and sustain comprehensive "combination" HIV prevention strategies, including behavior change interventions for PEHRBs, PwP programs and structural interventions that help address cultural, gender-specific and normative factors contributing to HIV risk.

This implementing mechanism includes as a cross-cutting issue a focus on addressing gender norms that spur gender inequality through programs openly addressing gender power imbalances. Programs targeting girls and women seek to provide them with the opportunities to develop the decision-making and leadership skills needed to make healthy choices including in the face of gender norms that place them at heightened risk for HIV infection. Programs targeting men and boys demonstrate the positive impact that changing societal expectations and traditional masculine roles can have on the health and well-being of men and boys and, in turn, the women in their lives. The USG supports the expansion of these programs as well as provision of opportunities for host country partners to expand their capacities and programming in this area.

The strategy of Peace Corps' work is to empower communities by enhancing the capacities of individuals and institutions work toward development goals and respond to development challenges, including HIV. Peace Corps provides training to host country counterparts to build capacity that is enhanced by on-site day-to-day support from Peace Corps Volunteers. It is a cost efficient and effective way to support capacity building given low program costs and one- two year assignment of each Volunteer.

Peace Corps will leverage its established systems for monitoring and evaluating progress toward targets. The outcomes of each Volunteer at the individual community level will be recorded in the Volunteer Reporting Form and summarized annually in the Project Status Report and the Initiative Status Report as well as in reports shared with host country and other stakeholders. Data collected and analyzed will be used to monitor progress toward project goals, share achievements and challenges with host country partners during stakeholder meetings and through annual reports, and gage efficacy of the strategy.

Activities of the implementing mechanism include:

1) Capacity building in design and implementation of behavior change communication and intervention strategies for PEHRBs including at-risk young people who are already sexually active and engaging in risky behaviors. Capacity building will be supported through training, followed by on-site support from the Peace Corps Volunteer and Peace Corps staff 2) Actively engaging youth as peer educators and partnering with organizations to implement youth friendly initiatives in order to reduce vulnerability to sexual transmission of HIV. Small grant funding will be made available to support community-based initiatives demonstrating the potential to impact key behaviors impacting sexual vulnerability to HIV infection. 3) Strengthening existing systems and developing new programs that focus on reducing the risk of HIV infection among women and girls and addressing harmful male norms. On-site support will be supported by targeted training, program development and small grants for community implementation.

Quality of programming will be assured by oversight and supervision provided by the Peace Corps staff of the Eastern Caribbean based on each island nation and responsible for providing support to the Peace Corps Volunteers, guiding their activities and monitoring outcomes. Sustainability of programs will be ensured by building capacity of community counterparts through training and on-site support provided by Peace Corps Volunteers placed in communities for two-year assignments. Training focuses on behavior change communication, project design and management and resource mobilization (focusing on use of local resources).

Activities will take place in small communities where Volunteers are placed in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia.