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| Regional Network of NGOs | |
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From the 8th to the 11th of November 2007, HARPAS, in partnership with UNFPA, the Japanese Fund for Women in Development, the Executive Secretary to Fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria of the Republic of Djibouti and the French Agency for Development organized a workshop in Djibouti that gathered more than 80 participants from all over the Arab Region. This workshop aimed to increase the advocacy skills of men and women religious leaders, in addition to NGO leaders regarding harmful traditional practices which have a clear impact on the AIDS epidemic (e.g. Female Genital Mutilation). This workshop was facilitated by Dr. Monica Sharma, a world expert on Leadership Training Skills. |
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| Key Events | |
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-- HARPAS/GFATM Workshop for CSOs
-- Facilitation of two workshops for Civil Society Leaders and Media
-- Symposium of Women's Rights Organizations in response to HIV/AIDS in the Arab Region
-- Regional Meeting of the Arab Civil Society Network Against HIV/AIDS
-- Regional Workshop on Networking, Partnership and Leadership for Civil Society Organizations on HIV/AIDS in the Arab Region |
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| Background | |
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Executives representing 35 NGOs across the region met in Tunis, December 2002 in a meeting convened by UNDP/HARPAS and UNAIDS to activate the civil society response in the Arab world. The meeting resulted in the creation of the Regional Arab Network Against AIDS (RANAA). Since its creation, RANAA has made a major breakthrough in serving as the first network of its kind in the Arab Region to address HIV/AIDS. RANAA aims to use the resources of NGOs in the 18 Arab countries it covers, to collectively stem the spread of HIV/AIDS and related stigma by raising awareness, reaching out to risk groups (i.e. injecting drug users, commercial sex workers, men having sex with men) and empowering civil society organizations to create change at the policy level to protect and promote the rights of PLWHA. |
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| Key Outcomes | |
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As direct result of the establishment of RANAA, national NGO HIV/AIDS networks have emerged in 7 Arab Countries: Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia, joining national networks already established in Morocco and Sudan. At the same time these national networks rely on RANAA to create new community based efforts that share information, experience and generate hope. By building the capacity of these NGOs to support PLWHA, increasing HIV/AIDS awareness in the local communities, and reaching out to risk groups they are creating the momentum to scale up the response at national and regional level unleashing the potential of Arab civil society. |
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| The way forward | |
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The future of RANAA relies on the supporting capacity building of its members. HARPAS aims to create dynamic ways with RANAA NGOs to energize its membership via frequent, effective communication and collaboration for a stronger collective response that will lead to policy level change. HARPAS has made grants available to support creative NGO initiatives developed through RANAA that can be replicated to generate a systematic approach that will in turn, influence the way countries in the region respond to HIV/AIDS. |
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| Key People | |
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. Secretariat for first year: December 2002 - February 2004 |
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| Products | |
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In order to improve the information sharing among NGOs working in the field of HIV/AIDS; to build on successes and learn from challenges; and to make the network better known around the region, RANAA: The NGO Arab Network Against Aids is issuing a bimonthly info-bulletin. The bulletin captures services, activities, conferences and other major meetings, publications, declarations and significant documents ensuing from NGOs work on HIV/AIDS at national or regional level. The bulletin is developed by the RANAA Secretariat, hosted by CARITAS in Alexandria, Egypt, and distributed among NGOs around the region, RANAA members, National Network secretariats, and UN agencies and donors with regional coverage. If you would like to subscribe, please send your request to caritasalex@link.net |
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| HARPAS Contact | |
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For more information on this initiative please contact
Dr. Khadija Moalla |
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