HIV & AIDS-Stigma and Violence Reduction Intervention Manual

This manual is a guide for community-based organisations to facilitate a community-led and -owned process that addresses stigma and gender-based violence in HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. It is based on findings from the Stigma and Violence Reduction Intervention (SVRI) project, conducted in Andhra Pradesh, India from 2003 to 2005. The project objective was to effect behavioural and attitudinal changes that would reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS among mobile and mobility-affected populations.

The manual is divided into seven sections. Section 2 discusses three tools that can be used in participatory development projects: participatory learning and action (PLA); community-led action research (CLAR); and transformatory workshops. The latter two methodologies draw on the basic principles of PLA, but include several innovations created through the SVRI project. Section 3 provides a general guide for implementing community-led action research. Section 4 describes the CLAR process among the key populations of the SVRI project and describes the plans of action that they developed based on this process. Finally, Section 5 discusses challenges and lessons learned in implementing a community-owned process to address stigma and gender-based violence, and Section 6 presents conclusions. Appendices I-VIII provide a sample toolkit with a series of workshops designed for the populations who participated in the SVRI project. Though these were designed specifically for this project, the activities and format may be adapted for use by similar projects working with other populations or in other countries.