Annex 4. Research Results Validation and Planning Workshop

Community Engagement Strengthening for the Philippine HIV Response (CES4PHR) Project

(A joint initiative of the Philippine NGO Support Program, Inc. and the Philippine National AIDS Council with support from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance)

SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS

Research Results Validation and Planning Workshop

OSec Conference Room, Department of Health

Tayuman, Manila

17 September 2010

1| Summary of Proceeding: Validation Forum and Planning Workshop, September 17, 2010

Table of Contents

Executive Summary2

Section A:Outputs of the Validation Session4

Research Results Presented

Commendations

Statement of Validation and Recommendations

Section B: The Planning Session 9

Outputs of key thematic groups

  • Policy Advocacy
  • Strategic Information and Knowledge Management
  • Service Delivery
  • Cross-cutting Issues

Synthesis of Outputs

Section C: Concluding Rites and Statements15

The Tree of Life:

Breaking the Noise, Raising Our Voice,

Our Call and Commitment, for Community Engagement.

Closing Message from UNAIDS

Appendix 1 – ParticipantRegister and their Signatures 17 Appendix 2 – Photo Documentation (removed) 19

Executive Summary

This report summarizesthe proceedings of the one-day Validation and Planning Workshop held at the Conference Room of the Office of the Health Secretary Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz,Manila on September 17, 2010.

The objectives of the validation and planning workshop is two-folds, first is to validate the findings, conclusions, insights and recommendations made in the research activity; and second, to plan for follow-through actions that may be implemented by various HIV stakeholders. Expected outputs to be delivered are one, comments/insights on the research’s findings, conclusions and recommendations; and two, list of potential and prioritized activities in three thematic areas and a general cross cutting area in the national HIV response.

The validation forum broughttogether 30 participants from acrossthe country representing the community-based groups of vulnerable, at-risk key populations and those living with HIV and affected people intheir circles of influence. Actively represented were also support institutions from NGOs, civil society networks and coalitions from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao including the National Capital Region. A total number of 5 LGU and National Government Agencies and international bilateral organizations participated in the forum. Community-based groups in this project are formally or informally organized groups of vulnerable, at-risk key populations and those living with HIV and affected people who are grouped according to their geographic proximity, special interests, and similar situations with respect to issues affecting their well-being and in this case HIV.

There were a total of 30 targeted participantsout of the total 233 mapped organizations nationwide. We are expecting 60% participation from CBGs, however of the 30 targeted, 34 were invited and 28 actually arrived. Generally, the target number of participants for the activity has been met at 98% achievement; however, we have not achieved the 60% target of CBG participants and only 10 were represented constituting 1/3 of the total participants and this is significant achievement.Nevertheless, the distribution of key affected populations was well distributed. There were a total of 5 representing the MSM, 1 for youth (who wanted to be in the youth group rather than MSM), 1 for persons who inject drugs, 3 from PLHIV, and 1 from prostituted women.

After the validation forum, insights, commendations and recommendations has been generated across the sectors. The initial assessment result presented validated the findings and recommendations made in the AMTP Mid-term Assessment Report and the Philippine National AIDS Council recommended that the results should be incorporated in the development of the 5thAMTP set to be completed this December 2010. A core group with a multi-stakeholders mandate is planned and an e-forum should be formed instead of a coalition to assist the project management team in maintaining the dynamic programs the community have already demonstrated and committed in their own and how to sustain appropriate initiatives to strengthen their community engagement.

Section B

Outputs of the Validation Forum

Planned Program

Actual Activity Proceedings

Arrival of Visayas-Mindanao Participants – Visayas-Mindanao participants arrived on September 16, 2010 and were booked at the Kimberly hotel in Manila until the 17th. Took 20 minutes travel time from the Hotel to the activity venue and arrived the site at 8:30 am.

Registration and Opening Program – The activity was facilitated by John Piermont Montila – programme manager, Jake Tolentino – project assistant, Mr. Roberto Nebrida, PHANSuP Executive Director, Dr. Loyd Brendan Norella – Technical Consultant and Rench Chan-Liongco-PNAC staff and Girlie Enrera. Administrative support was provided by Junnel Rombaon and Bing Pasco. Registration was initiated by Jake Tolentino and the opening programme began at 9:30 am with an opening prayer delivered by John Piermont Montilla and the self-introduction of each participant.

OpeningMessage - The welcome remarks was delivered by Mr. Roberto “Bob” Nebrida, Executive Director of PHANSuP. Mr. Nebrida. In his message, he underscored the re-emerging importance of community engagement in the influence of key affected and infected populations in the National HIV response, frameworks and goals on HIV and AIDS. He reiterated the findings of the Commission on AIDS in Asia Report finds that “partnerships and community engagement can foster a sense of ‘ownership’ of the response that tends to be absent when projects are externally run”. In his parting statement, he reiterated the report’s recommendation that “community and civil society involvement should be ensured at all stages of policy, program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation” as basis of the CES4PHR project.

Keynote Message – a speech from the Philippine National AIDS Council was graced by the PNAC Secretariat in the person of Dr. Ferchito Avelino, Director VI and offered an inspirational speech on community engagement. In his speech, he shared the results of the assessment of the AMTP 4 that expressed need for a more strategic and effective response. Pointing out the results of the midterm assessment of the 4th AMTP in November 2008 shows that “partnerships are critical to the success of the program” and reveals that “these partnerships have either not taken off or not blossomed in the last few years…”Dr. Chito underscored that: “Engagement in the PNAC decision-making process, voices of key affected communities and populations are critical to inform policies, programs and interventions that serve them best and banking on their engagement, the PNAC is mandated to build a cohesive and accelerated response on HIV that is rooted in community action”

Presentation of the Research paper of the Assessment of the Engagement of Community-based Groups (CBGs) in the Philippine HIV Response – After the two inspiring messages, the concept paper of the Assessment of the Engagement of Community-based Groups (CBGs) in the Philippine HIV Response is presented by John Piermont Montilla. His presentation focused on the current HIV trend in the country as revealed by the NEC statistics and 2009 IHBSS results, the rationale of the Assessment of the Engagement of Community-based Groups (CBGs) in the Philippine HIV Response and the research objectives.

Presentation of the framework, methodology and respondents, the data gathering instruments and their administration and preliminary results – This was then followed by the presentation of the technical component of the research and the results of the study by the Technical Consultant Dr. Loyd Brendan Norella. Dr. Loyd presented research framework, methodology and respondents, the data gathering instruments and their administration. Dr. Loyd Norella presented the results in three key thematic areas namely, (A.) Advocacy Policy, (B.) Strategic Information and Knowledge Management and (C.) Service Delivery . Mr. Nebrida also shared that the research has undergone endorsement from the DOH and ethics review by the DREC.

Research Results Cited and itsValidation – after the presentations, Director Bob Nebrida opened the floor for an Open Forum and Mr. Montilla moderated the validation sessions. Participants served as the panel while Dr. Loyd Norella, Dr. Chito and Director Bob served as the discussants. Participants cited the results and offer their insights and validation as well as key recommendations for the purpose of enrichment of the analysis of the research.

  1. Reactions from the participants
  • Do the research findings, conclusions and recommendations answer or lead to answer the research question?Does the responses individual or organizational or sectoral? The domains of decision-making should also have a clear lines and definition whether individual, organizational, community among others and provide an analysis of their unmet needs or capacities in the three thematicareas per domains of engagement. (Tri-DEV, SHED)
  • Regression analysis seems not to be appropriate given the small number of research participants. Descriptive analysis is appropriate to gauge the levels of engagement of communities in the HIV response (Tri-DEV, SHED)
  • Including all research participants to the analysis skews the results on the level of community engagement. The total CBGs should be the total number of samples to be analysed and research participants from support institutions should be analysed separately and compare results from CBGs and Support institutions (Tri-DEV, SHED, NAFWA)
  • Analysis should divide the country into four major divisions. NCR should be separated from Luzon and each analysis for community engagement in each should be provided. (From the PNAC, TriDEV, KGPP)
  • The interacting relationships between the three thematic domains whre community knowledge informs policy which informs service delivery and how the outcomes of these three domains together impact CBGs total engagement process for the response to HIV
  • E-portal is an expressed need as well as opportunity given that almost all communities have internet access (Consensus)
  1. Advocacy Policy
  • Expressed need for capacity development for Advocacy Policy for CBGs and their key leaders
  • Development of policy inventory and review tools for the use of CBGs should also be a key capacity-development recommendation because most CBGs just sit to attend meetings but have no tools on how to deeply engaged in policy advocacy
  • Different roles of CBGs, support institutions in policy advocacy in different domains of engagement as individual, organizational, and societal/community in terms of their policy influence should be clarified
  1. Strategic Information and Knowledge Management
  • Expressed need for capacity development for knowledge management for CBGs and their key leaders
  • Support institutions role in knowledge management especially in engaging communities in this area
  1. Service Delivery
  • Expressed need for capacity development or continuing training for service delivery providers and for CBGs and their key leaders
  • Role of the Government institutions in engaging communities they served for service delivery other than providing actual service delivery (HACT of PGH)

Commendations

First, the PNAC Secretariat represented by Director Ferchito Avelino was impressed with the results of the assessment. The results validated the findings and recommendations made in the AMTP Mid-term Assessment Report and suggest integrating the results of the research and the project outcomes in the development of the 5th AMTP set to be completed this December 2010. As part of the objective of the study, the results will guide decisions over areas of policy advocacy, strategic information and knowledge management, and service delivery and a multi-stakeholders mandate in developing and maintaining the dynamic programs the community have already demonstrated and committed in their own spheres of decision-making influence such as their organizations, communities and local governments in implementing and sustaining appropriate initiatives to strengthen their community engagement.

Insights from CBGs and NGOs – In initiating this research, the participants from the CBG groups also expressed their remarks in small-group discussions, some of their voices were as follows:

“Natapos na ang mga proyekto namin at nagpapasalamat ako na naka join akong muli sa ganitong pagsalosalo na marinig din ang gaming boses. Sana ma tulongan an gaming grupo na mapatibay” PWID in GeneralSantosCity

Sana hindi kami tawagin o ilagay sa “MSM” na grupo, youth kami at gusto naming na ang peer educator namin ay kapareha naming lalake hindi yung bakla para comportable kami. Karapatan din naming na amin boses marinig. Salamat sa pag bigay oportunidad na makilahok kami dito. Street youth from Youth Peers in Action Team (YouthPACT)

Despite the years of the successful implementation of HIV and AIDS interventions (more than 10 year for our part), our communities still feels disengaged in owning their own response. In fact, once external funds ceases, their response also cease - they are robbed both of the understanding of what authentic community engagement is and their right to engaged in all decision-making processes that is already afforded to them by law. A community sentiment I personally agree which is most often than not – never being discussed. Rhea Penaflor – Iloilo.

Statement of Validation and Recommendations

As part of objectives of the validation forum, the panel (participants) sought evidence for the validation of the research within the three key thematic areas plus the cross-cutting areas such as the e-portal. The panel performed a moderated discussions and sharing of insights into the validity of both the evidence presented and gathered in the form of key informant interviews. The panel recommends the formation of a national core group (discussion group) with a multi-stakeholder mandate representing experts, NGOs, and key leaders of the CBGs that will go over and review the results of the research and make recommendations and how to organize the data for further analysis. The core group will be engage in a moderated and participative discussion and consultation whether through face-to-face or through the proposed FB portal.

The validation panel report includes a number of recommendations for the four areas of consideration as well as on the achievements of the mapping activities that produced the civil society directory,the evidence cited and its validation and recommendation as well as referencing the results of the research and the CES4PHR project in the AMTP 5. The multi-stakeholdersvalidation panel completed the validation process, concluding with the writing of this report.

Section B

The Planning Workshop

After Lunch, a tactic session between Sir Bob, Johnpierre and Dr. Loyd was initiated. Sir Bob presented a 3- year master plan template to guide the mind-mapping and planning workshop of three key thematic groups. The 3-year blueprint has the following outline:

Assumptions: Activity Flow

From Unheard Voices = Inferior Results

Engaged Voices = Superior Results

Outcomes Flow:

The planning workshop started after the tactic session at about 1:45 pm. It was noted that there were only two thematic were filled in and mostly in the service delivery group. Johnpierre sought some participants who have experience on strategic information and knowledge management and finally got 6 core group members and facilitated the group. Dr. Loyd facilitated the policy advocacy theme group with 9 core group members majority from PLHIV communities and support institutions. Girlie Enrera volunteered for the Service delivery theme group with 10 core group members majority from support institutions and all CBG were represented. Jake Tolentino served as the documenter. The 3- year master plan template guidedthe 3 thematic group in their mind-mapping and planning workshop that ended at 3:55 pm.

The Planning Workshops

Policy Advocacy

In the advocacy policy theme group, it was noted that all CBGs from PWID,Youth, MSM and PLHIV were represented. They were participated by support institutions such as the HACT of PGH, Tri-Dev, SHED, Ladlad and PAFPI who presented the group’s output. UNAIDS also observed their group. The substance of the group’s output was focused on the participation of the CBG’s and their key leaders in local special bodies like the local AIDS council, the Barangay Development Council including the Philippine National AIDS Council. Dr. Loyd Norella facilitated the group

Knowledge Management

In this area, most are participated by support institutions from NGOs and Government service delivery institutions. The members were, KGPP who served as the group presenter, LEFADO, City Health, TLF Share, HDES. The group focused on two major activities, developing learning and IEC materials that are tailored to the needs of CBGs and key populations they served and development of modules that are developed out of the experiences of CBGs in their own communities. Activities like inventorying of learning materials currently in use and reviewing the appropriateness of the interventions and strategies and collecting local stories of responses to HIV were the major topic discussed by the group. The group was facilitated by JohnPierre.

Service Delivery

In the service delivery thematic group, majority of the participants are from the CBGs. The group is participated by, Pinoy plus, NAFWA, Cebu Plus, YAFA and St. Camillus. The utmost concerns of group participants were their bid to access services that are afforded to them by law and how they sustainabley access them and engage them in the delivery of such services with respect and dignity. The group underscores how they are involved over decisions for service delivery to achieve Universal Access particularly focused on ARV, VCT, care and support and out-patient services (OPD) including insurance.