News and Events

1st GMS Technical Workshop for Harmonizing HIV Prevention Initiatives in the Infrastructure Sector

The 1^st GMS Technical Workshop for Harmonizing HIV Prevention Initiatives in the Infrastructure Sector was held at the ADB Thailand Resident Mission from 12-13 May 2008. The objective of the Workshop was to review information and experiences in addressing HIV vulnerabilities associated with the infrastructure sector in order to harmonize common areas of practice among development agencies. The Workshop was meant to be a direct response to commitments made by ADB and other signatories to the Joint Initiative by Development Agencies for the Infrastructure Sectors to Mitigate the Spread of HIV/AIDS¹ during a High Level Meeting in August 2006², which included standardizing a minimum standard package and monitoring and evaluation framework. Over 40 participants attended the Technical Workshop, including representatives from development agencies, Government line ministries for health and infrastructure, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, private sector, and other “practitioners” (or consultants) who implemented, or are currently working on, HIV prevention initiatives in the infrastructure sector in the GMS.

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The first day was devoted to discussing technical considerations in project identification, preparation, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). This was complemented by a separate session on building (or strengthening) a coordinated national program to provide support to individual projects. Some of the key issues raised on Day 1 include:

• The importance of conducting pre- and post-construction HIV prevention initiatives in order to build and sustain community resilience against HIV and other social vulnerabilities (e.g. human trafficking)
• Involvement of the private sector through corporate social responsibility
• Ensuring that project designs and budgets can be modified to adequately respond to the results of mid-term project M&E
• Agreeing on core working principles (e.g. gender equality, community engagement and rigorous M&E) to complement the minimum standard package

The second day was focused on strengthening collaboration among different national and regional players, as well as discussing cross-cutting issues such as gender and human trafficking. Day 2 started with opening remarks from Dr. Prasada Rao, Regional Director for the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific, who strongly encouraged ADB to take the leading role in HIV prevention in the infrastructure sector in Asia and the Pacific, using the GMS experience to set the standard for the region. ADB also presented the draft gender strategy and action plan for the infrastructure sector in the GMS.

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The main outcome of the Workshop was an agreement among the participants to jointly develop the following:

• a minimum package of interventions, including an M&E framework
• harmonized implementation arrangement options
• defining core principles and approaches

ADB agreed to draft these with a technical writing team by mid-October 2008. The draft documents will undergo an endorsement review by a broad range of stakeholders at a regional conference to be organized by ADB around October/November 2008.

A debriefing session was held on 6 June 2008 at ADB Headquarters, Manila. The purpose was to provide ADB staff with information on key issues and lessons discussed at the Bangkok Workshop, including the next steps for effectively responding to HIV prevention in the infrastructure sector in the GMS.