Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2007 2008 2009

Details for Mechanism ID: 4696
Country/Region: Rwanda
Year: 2007
Main Partner: Engility
Main Partner Program: International Development Services Group
Organizational Type: NGO
Funding Agency: USAID
Total Funding: $150,000

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Abstinence/Be Faithful (HVAB): $100,000

This activity relates to HVOP (7184, 8131), HVAB (7183), HBHC (7187), and HKID (7186).

The Biodiversity project is a USAID four-year, $3.8 million project which will focus on the Nyungwe Forest National Park and its surrounding buffer areas in southwestern Rwanda. The project's primary objective is to encourage sustainable rural economic growth through the development of a tourism sector that is compatible with existing and potential community development activities. The project will focus 20% of its resources on community based health activities to raise awareness of the interlinking issues of population, health and the environment. The Biodiversity Project will work in five districts with some of the highest population densities in the country (250-500/km2), reaching approximately 300,000 people. More than 90% of the people living in this catchment area are farmers. The people living around Nyungwe Park are highly marginalized with low education levels, large families, poor housing, frequent food insecurity, and limited access to basic health care and infrastructure. The populations living within 10 kms of the Nyungwe Forest National Park are considered high risk because they will experience an influx of migration from private enterprises and increased tourists around the park. These populations have little access to information about HIV and will likely see an increase in income through the economic benefits of ecotourism, as well as increases in outside populations drawn to the Nyungwe area for work and livelihood.

With $200,000 in Family Planning and Infectious Disease funding and a total of $150,000 in EP funding (HVAB - $100,000 and HVOP - $50,000), the project will provide information about family planning, malaria prevention, and HIV/AIDS prevention to the populations around Nyungwe Park. Communities will be encouraged to seek antenatal services, VCT, and facility-based deliveries. They will also receive HIV prevention messages that focus on abstinence, fidelity, partner reduction, alcohol use, and GBV through IEC print materials, mobile video screenings, interpersonal communications, and community drama. The need to shift social norms, particularly male behaviors, will be emphasized through community events. An estimated 20,000 individuals will receive direct AB messages, which will reinforce the services and information provided at the health facilities in these communities. The Biodiversity project will work to strengthen referrals to HIV/AIDS services and the linkages between the health facility and the community.

Biodiversity will use existing IEC materials and messages approved by the CNLS BCC Steering Committee. The project will coordinate closely with CHAMP and the Child Survival Grants Project consortium - Concern, IRC and World Relief - who works in part of the five Biodiversity districts. This activity supports the integration of HIV/AIDS and health through community-based services. This activity reflects the EP Five Year Strategy of involving the private sector and targeting vulnerable populations.

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Other Sexual Prevention (HVOP): $50,000

This activity relates to HVOP (7184), HVAB (7183, 8124), HKID (7186), and HBHC (7187).

The Biodiversity project is a USAID four-year, $3.8 million project which will focus on the Nyungwe Forest National Park and its surrounding buffer areas in southwestern Rwanda. The project's primary objective is to encourage sustainable rural economic growth through the development of a tourism sector that is compatible with existing and potential community development activities. The project will focus 20% of its resources on community based health activities to raise awareness of the interlinking issues of population, health and the environment. The Biodiversity Project will work in five districts with some of the highest population densities in the country (250-500/km2) reaching approximately 300,000 people. More than 90% of the people living in this catchment area are farmers. The people living around Nyungwe Park are highly marginalized with low education levels, large families, poor housing, frequent food insecurity, and limited access to basic health care and infrastructure. The populations living within 10 km of the Nyungwe Forest National Park are considered high risk because they will experience an influx of migration from private enterprises and tourists engaging in ecotourism opportunities in and around the park. These populations have little access to information about HIV and will likely see an increase in income through the economic benefits of tourism, as well as increases in outside populations drawn to the Nyungwe area for work and livelihood.

With $200,000 in Family Planning and Infectious Disease funding and a total of $150,000 in the EP funding, the project will provide information about family planning, malaria prevention, and HIV/AIDS prevention to the populations around Nyungwe Park. Communities will be encouraged to seek antenatal services, VCT, and facility-based deliveries. They will also receive HIV prevention messages that include information on consistent, correct condom use as well as the role of alcohol and GBV in HIV transmission. The Biodiversity project will raise awareness of condom distribution through outlets and will use existing IEC materials, mobile video screenings, interpersonal communications, and community drama. This project will train an estimated 300 community volunteers to deliver these messages and assist with the community events which will reach an estimated 20,000 individuals with direct ABC messages. These events will reinforce the HIV prevention information provided at the health facilities in these communities. The Biodiversity project will work to strengthen referrals to VCT and other HIV/AIDS services and the linkages between the health facility and the community.

Biodiversity will use IEC materials and messages approved by the CNLS BCC Steering Committee. The project will coordinate closely with CHAMP and the Child Survival Grants Project - Concern, IRC and World Relief - which are working in some of the five Biodiversity districts. This activity supports the integration of HIV/AIDS and health through community-based services.

The activity supports the key legislative issue of stigma and discrimination, and wraps around non-HIV and environment activities. This activity reflects the EP Five Year Strategy of involving the private sector and targeting high-risk populations.