ACTIVITY HAS BEEN MODIFIED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

Food For the Hungry (FH) conducted a Mid-Term Evaluation in April 2008 and will implement the

recommendations from the evaluation in COP 09. The evaluation found that sub-partners are able to reach

large numbers of youth using the cascade method; all aspects of the project were found to have strong

curricula and good monitoring systems. FH is reducing targets to improve quality of the project in

consonance with the national prevention strategy that specifies a minimum of 3 interventions to reach a

target. Each promoter will train and supervise 10 Youth-to-Youth (Y2Y) groups consisting of 10 leader youth

(LY) each. The LY will each work with 10 beneficiary youth (BY). The lead agency will employ a training

specialist to assist all partners in improving the quality of training, especially at the lower levels of the

structure. In addition, the lead agency will employ an M&E specialist to provide specific support to all project

partners. The sexual abuse prevention component of the curriculum will be removed as recommended by

the evaluation report. An identified need to concentrate more on abstinence skills has led to a revision of the

FH Choose Life curriculum to include more skills training and skill building exercises.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION:

FH, a Track 1 ABY partner, implements activities in Nigeria as part of a multi-country program. This activity

supports FH's Nigeria program, which it implements through three major sub partners: Beacon of Hope

(Christian Reformed World Relief Committee) who is the lead agency in Nigeria, the Salvation Army and the

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. FH currently supports activities in 13 states where Nazarene,

Salvation Army and TEKAN member churches exist. During COP 09 when the 3rd cohort starts, the number

of states will be reduced to eight in order to provide efficient and better supervision. Another partner,

Operation Blessing, a media organization, produces public service announcements (PSAs) that reinforce

abstinence and faithfulness (AB) messages for radio and TV throughout Nigeria.

FH will continue AB awareness meetings, consisting of focus group discussions and presentations back to

the community/group, to reinforce abstinence and faithfulness as ways to prevent the spread of HIV. Youth

and adults interested in further participation in the program will be identified to participate in these

community awareness campaigns of the program.

Youth-to-Youth (Y2Y) groups aim to increase the commitment of individuals to abstinence before marriage

and faithfulness in marriage. Each Y2Y group in the third cohort, starting 1 January 2009, will consist of ten

LY per the recommendation of the Mid-Term Evaluation. Promoters, using the age-graded Choose Life

curricula will train the LY for at least twelve sessions to be peer educators. Each LY shares what he/she

learns with a group of ten peers (BY). Trained promoters and on-site co-promoters assist, coach and

mentor the LY through the Y2Y groups and as they share with their peers. Each youth is encouraged to

have a mentor who is invited to a Y2Y group session to learn more about AB and his/her role as mentor. A

discussion guide is available to help them as they meet together to discuss the topics covered in the

Choose Life curriculum. The curriculum includes essential life skills and, while promoting AB, provides

accurate information on condoms to youth 15 years and older. The Choose Life curriculum will be revised to

emphasize and help youth build skills for abstinence more effectively. Through the barrier analysis survey

and BEHAVE Framework, key determinants that help and/or hinder abstinence and faithfulness were

identified. These are addressed in the activities to help participants change their behavior. Culturally

appropriate materials help guide the Y2Y discussions that address issues relating to relationships, sex,

sexual abuse and coercion, HIV and AIDS and its impact on the community. Through these small-group

discussions and the multiplier effect of the LY, the Y2Y groups promote AB as healthy and desirable sexual

choices. The curricula include guidance and encouragement to continue meeting as accountability groups

after completion of the manuals. Strategies used in these activities are the peer education model, curricula

based approach, interactive and participatory learning through games and dramas (peer education model

plus), the use of role models and addressing vulnerability issues through essential life skills training and

gender roles. These strategies plus the community awareness campaigns are part of minimum package of

the national prevention strategy for youth trained and youth reached with AB messages.

FH's faithfulness training emphasizes faithfulness to married men and women between the ages of 15-49.

The faithfulness training utilizes a culturally appropriate and evidence-based curriculum of nine sessions,

Keys to a Healthy Relationship, to guide small group interactions that promote messages about fidelity in

marriage and responsible behavior. To implement this, FH holds training of trainers (TOT) workshops that

engage married adults and influential religious and community leaders in discussions on relationships, sex,

sexual abuse and coercion, HIV and AIDS and its impact on the community. The trainers teach married

couples or those in long-term committed relationships in their churches, mosques and communities. The

formation of accountability groups is encouraged. The strategies for these activities include peer education

model, curricula based approach, use of role models and addressing vulnerability issues through the

promotion of healthy relationships between married men and women.

To ensure consistent and high quality implementation of activities, FH uses a wide range of evidence based

M&E tools that include barrier analysis survey, BEHAVE Framework, knowledge, attitude and practice

(KAP) surveys, quality improvement verification checklists and post-tests. FH will employ a training

specialist and an M & E specialist to improve the training and the use and effectiveness of these tools.

The impact the Y2Y groups and faithfulness training have on communities continues to be tremendous.

These programs encourage discussion and dialogue within the family and larger community about various

social issues related to HIV and AIDS.

CONTRIBUTION TO OVERALL PROGRAM AREA:

Through these activities, FH will promote AB to youth and adults as a means of reducing the spread of HIV

and AIDS. FH will work alongside its faith-based and community partners to train 8,100 LY and influential

adults to promote HIV and AIDS prevention through abstinence and/or being faithful and to reach 16,188

youth and adults with AB messages. FH will reach its targets by implementing activities with 414 churches,

schools and other community organizations. These targets include people from both the 2nd and 3rd cohort

of the centrally funded project because cohort 2 will end in December 2008 and cohort 3 will begin in

Activity Narrative: January 2009.

LINKS TO OTHER ACTIVITIES:

FH's goal is to integrate its program into the lives of the churches, schools and communities where it works.

Therefore, it works to promote community acceptance of AB as healthy sexual choices and as social norms.

FH integrates these messages into other program activities with its partners and builds their capacities to

continue promotion of AB when this project ends. As there are currently no direct links with other

USAID/PEPFAR activities, FH's partners will seek and the USG prevention team will help to actively

promote linkages with implementing partners involved in other activities that will improve the response to

HIV and AIDS. With funds from other donors, HCT is offered at the faithfulness TOTs and promoters'

training.

POPULATIONS BEING TARGETED:

FH targets unmarried youth between the ages of 10-24 years and married men and women aged 15-49

years. This is based on the National HIV/AIDS & Reproductive Health Survey (NARHS) of 2003 that found

the median age of first sex was 16.9 years for females and 19.8 years for males. The NARHS survey also

found that sex with a non-marital partner was highest in women aged 20-24 years (15.1%) and in men aged

25-29 (36.6%) followed closely by those in the 20-24 age group (34.9%). The 2005 Sentinel Survey found

the highest prevalence of HIV in the 25-29 age group (4.9%) closely followed by those 20-24 years (4.7%).

EMPHASIS AREAS:

Emphasis areas include human capacity development and gender equality.

Training and human capacity development is central to the program. The aim is to build the capacity of

youth to abstain from sex outside of marriage and to be faithful within marriage. Staff, promoters, co-

promoters, leader youth and faithfulness trainers will continue to be trained to develop skills in program

implementation, facilitation, counseling and monitoring.

Gender equality continues to be addressed through the Y2Y groups and faithfulness training. The curricula

used in these activities are very intentional in promoting equality between males and females. They address

issues such as sexual abuse, violence and coercion. This training also addresses the stigma that exists

within Nigerian society towards those with HIV and AIDS.

New/Continuing Activity: Continuing Activity

Continuing Activity: 13047

Continued Associated Activity Information

Activity Activity ID USG Agency Prime Partner Mechanism Mechanism ID Mechanism Planned Funds

System ID System ID

13047 5314.08 U.S. Agency for Food for the 6376 3690.08 USAID Track $460,000

International Hungry 1.5 Food for the

Development Hungry

6712 5314.07 U.S. Agency for Food for the 4169 3690.07 Track 1.5 $443,656

International Hungry

Development

5314 5314.06 U.S. Agency for Food for the 3690 3690.06 Track 1.5 $475,118

International Hungry

Development

Emphasis Areas

Gender

* Addressing male norms and behaviors

* Increasing gender equity in HIV/AIDS programs

* Reducing violence and coercion

Human Capacity Development

Estimated amount of funding that is planned for Human Capacity Development $50,735

Public Health Evaluation

Food and Nutrition: Policy, Tools, and Service Delivery

Food and Nutrition: Commodities

Economic Strengthening

Education

Water

Table 3.3.02: