Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109517

Jaya Chimnani, MPH, Global Health and Development Strategies Division, Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., 1101 Vermont Ave, NW. Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005, 571-213-6186, Jchimnani@s-3.com

Background: South-to-South collaboration is cost-effective and replicable in resource-constrained settings, and critical in ensuring rapid and broad programmatic HIV/AIDS efforts. In February 2004, Social & Scientific Systems (SSS) with Cicatelli Associates (a capacity-building NGO) conducted the first South-to-South technical exchange between two networks of PLWHA in Latin and Central America (14 participants, 10 countries).

Method: SSS facilitated a three-day exchange to build collaboration between the two regional PLWHA networks. SSS' model fostered collaborative regional efforts with the objective of ensuring greater impact through a unified voice in the international fora and avoiding duplication of efforts. This built trust between the two networks, strengthened their leadership, and identified additional regional capacity-building and technical assistance needs. The technical exchange was based on needs assessment results and adult learning principles and used group activities, demonstrations, role-playing, and case studies. An online discussion board encouraged ongoing communications among participants and allowed facilitators to provide additional technical assistance on skills replication and proposal development.

Results: A three-month follow-up survey (telephone, email) demonstrated that 50% of the participants had replicated team-building, communication, and behavior change skills within their NGO networks. Approximately 70% accessed the listserve to exchange ideas with their peers and solicited additional technical assistance from the facilitators.

Conclusion: This South-to-South capacity building model effectively increased regional capacity and skills and coordination between the networks while reducing reliance on outside technical assistance and duplication of efforts. It served as an impetus for creating a unified voice for the Latin America and the Caribbean region PLWHA networks. The model is cost-effective and replicable within limited-resource settings and promising for adaptation for scaling-up HIV/AIDS interventions.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, attendees will be able to

• describe the elements of the model used for building capacity to respond to HIV between two networks.
• identify the effectiveness of the South-to-South exchange and collaboration

Keywords: Training, International Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.