A collection of HIV and AIDS tools and resources for program managers in Tanzania -2006 CD-ROM

           

            Currently there is no central HIV/AIDS knowledge management system for published HIV/AIDS materials and resources that are Tanzania-appropriate in English and Swahili.  A CD-ROM was developed in collaboration with the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS), funded by the USAID-Quality Assurance Project that presents a collection of over 390 HIV and AIDS electronic tools and resources. 

            The CD-ROM, a companion tool to the National HIV and AIDS Communication and Advocacy Strategy, was designed for government and non-governmental organizations who manage HIV and AIDS programs, to serve as “one-stop shop” of the key national guidelines, policies, protocols, and program management resources currently being used for HIV and AIDS  programming in Tanzania. The CD-ROM contributes to a multi-sectoral, coordinated response to HIV and AIDS by providing a resource to build the capacity of program planners, managers, and implementers in Tanzania by making existing technical and program resources more widely available and accessible. 

            The CD-ROM was developed over a 20-month period, beginning in early 2005.  From March-December 2005, extensive research was conducted to collect potential tools and resources used in Tanzania. Resources were gathered, organized and official permission for their use in this CD-ROM was requested in writing.  This entailed a review of the materials based on certain explicit criteria, including appropriateness for use in Tanzania, consistency with a multi-sectoral approach to the response to HIV/AIDS and supporting skills transfer to local counterparts and implementing agencies.  In June of 2006 a stakeholders meeting was held in Dar es Salaam and a final review of the tools and resources was conducted with the Tanzanian government. 

            The CD-ROM was disseminated at the 3^rd National Multi-sectoral HIV/AIDS conference in Tanzania in December 2006.  While this CD-ROM was developed for Tanzania, the concept can easily be transferred to another country.