Greater Mekong Subregion

ICT and HIV/ AIDS Preventive Education in the Cross-Border Areas (TA No. 6083)

Overview

The problem of HIV/ AIDS is related to drug and sex work- and in turn associated with cross-border traffic which has increased with the opening of GMS borders to tourism and trade. The majority of the subregion's population- who are poor- are also vulnerable to HIV/ AIDS due to lack of access to education and health care, poverty, lack of information, drug use, human trafficking and involvement in the sex trade.

There is strong potential in the use of ICT in education and health for targeting HIV/ AIDS, but this has not been adequately explored due to lack of infrastructure (hardware and software) and trained personnel, and limited financial resources.

Objectives and Scope

This TA project's goals are to

• reduce HIV/ AIDS incidence among vulnerable age groups and poor/ marginalized populations
• expand the use of ICT and other multi-media technologies in HIV/ AIDS preventive education

• develop ICT learning materials for HIV/ AIDS preventive education
• build capacities of teachers and other stakeholders for HIV/ AIDS preventive education
• expand the use of ICT in HIV/ AIDS preventive education
• deliver ICT-based interventions to isolated, marginalized and vulnerable populations

• Methodology and Key Activities
• Implementation

Methodology and Key Activities

The TA will target around 8,000 in-school youth (13-24 year olds), out-of-school youth and other special risk groups (truck drivers, sex workers, interstitial population) and source communities, through educational radio-based programming, community-based information programs, community learning centers (CLCs) and peer education support to ICT programs. The school and CLC setting will focus on identified high-risk cross-border areas.

The four components are as follows:

1. Learning Materials Development- materials will be developed at provincial development centers and school/ CLC level to ensure local appropriateness. Developed materials will respond to the linked triad of problems- HIV/ AIDS risk behavior, trafficking in women and girls, and drug abuse among highland minorities.

2. Capacity Building- community based (youth, women, CLC) groups will be strengthened to provide complementary and follow-up peer education support to radio and school-based programs.

3. Program Delivery- this will be through school curriculum and activities, with teachers as change agents and social advocates.

4. Database and Information Support- this will include, among others, collecting, processing, disseminating and sharing information materials on HIV/AIDS and reviewing, synthesizing and repackaging information tailored to target audiences.

Implementation Arrangements

Executing agencies will be UNESCO and SEAMEO, each with its own project management unit (PMU). Implementing agencies will be selected partners of UNESCO and the three SEAMEO regional centers. Implementation is envisaged over 18 months, from January 2003 to June 2004. The mid-term review will be around October 2003 at which time Phase 2 will be planned and formulated.

Project Cost and Financing ($)

Status

Ongoing.

For detailed information on the project, write to the GMS Unit (ADB) at the following e mail address:

gms@adb.org