In 2005 Novib – Oxfam Netherlands started a project called Knowledge Infrastructure with and between Counterparts – KIC. The project aims to improve impact of the work of counterparts by enhancing joint learning between counterparts of Novib and counterparts of Oxfam affiliates.
One of the items included in the KIC programme is mainstreaming HIV/AIDS and STI’s in educational programmes. As part of the KIC programme Youth Incentives has engaged in a long term partnership with Oxfam Novib and World Population Foundation (WPF) to support Oxfam Novib’s counterparts in their efforts to mainstream HIV and AIDS in their educational programmes.
Two regions were identified to support the partners of Oxfam Novib; India, which is supported by WPF, and West Africa, which is supported by Youth Incentives.
In West Africa ( Senegal, Burkina Faso and Niger) 5 organisations participate in the KIC programme. These are in Senegal:
• Action Jeunesse & Environnement (AJE),
• Association Culturelle d’Auto Promotion Educative et Sociale (ACAPES), et
• ENDA GRAF
In Burkina Faso:
• Cadre de Concertation des ONG et Associations Actives en Education de Base (CCEB)
And in Niger :
• Niger Amitié
All five are active in formal, informal and non-formal education and have solicited to be included in the KIC programme.
The project consist of a needs assessment of all the partners and the drawing up of a common and/or individual Action Plan(s) for a pilot project to mainstream HIV and AIDS in their educational programmes. During this process the project will document the experiences of the different partners in the form of good, bad and new experiences. These practices will be disseminated through the KIC portal. A community of practice will facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences between the different partners and external stakeholders of the project.
In January and February 2007 Nico Barning, sr. consultant for Youth Incentives, visited the five organisations in the three West African countries. In March 2007 the workshop took place in Dakar (Senegal) with all five partners in order to draw up the action plans.
