EDUCAIDS

Recognizing the vital role of the Education Sector in national responses to HIV & AIDS, the UNAIDS Committee of Co-sponsoring Organizations (CCO) launched EDUCAIDS, the Global Initiative on Education and HIV & AIDS, in March 2004. UNESCO tasked with leading the initiative and works globally with member states and stakeholders to strengthen national capacities to develop and implement comprehensive national education sector responses to the AIDS epidemic.

EDUCAIDS has two primary aims:

• To prevent the spread of HIV through education


• To protect the core functions of the education system for the worst effects of the epidemic

UNESCO’s activities are guided by UNESCO’s Strategy for Responding to HIV and AIDS and the Global Strategic Plan for Promoting and Supporting the Implementation of EDUCAIDS 2009-2011(draft) as well as by Regional HIV & AIDS Education Strategies and National evidence-based Policies and Strategic Plans. UNESCO’s interventions are supported by the EDUCAIDS Framework and the Practical Guidelines for Supporting EDUCAIDS Implementation (draft), amongst other resources such as the HIV and Education Mainstreaming Toolkit and User’s Guide and the International Guidelines on Sexuality EducationSystematic monitoring, evaluating and documenting comprehensive education sector responses to HIV and AIDS characterize UNESCO activities.

Challenges of HIV & AIDS Education in sub-Saharan Africa:

Despite considerable efforts and progress made in the education sector in responding to the AIDS epidemic, many challenges remain in the sub-Saharan African Region.School enrollments, especially for secondary level, need to increase; knowledge levels related to HIV are still low, with young females having less accurate knowledge than their male peers; girls and young women remain disproportionately vulnerable, including at school and other educational institutions; the number of children orphaned by HIV continues to increase, growing numbers of teachers and learners are in need of care, support and social protection; the curriculum delivery of HIV and related topics such as relationships, sexuality and STI continue to under-perform and often fails to achieve behavior change. Therefore the education sector response is facing a double-challenge of scaling-up the extent of school-based HIV and AIDS Education programs and assuring their quality and pertinence.

Globally youth account for 45% of new infections annually.Among youth aged 15-24, 60% are not able to correctly identifying ways of preventing HIV 9.

velopment Office (ntion programmes may be having an impact on sexual behaviours in some African countries. ion, an Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region mostly heavily affected by HIV worldwide, accounting for 67% of people living with HIV.(www.unaids.org). In the SSA region by far the most common means of HIV transmission continues to be unprotected sex with an infected partner, though recent evidence reveals the epidemic to be more diverse than previously thought (UNAIDS Fact Sheet: Sub-Saharan Africa).Evidence suggests that HIV prevention programmes may be having an impact on sexual behaviors in some African countries.Countries are increasingly recognizing the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to make responsible choices in their lives.Properly designed and implemented programs can reduce some of the risks and underlying vulnerabilities faced by youth today.The teacher, who plays a key role prevention programming by providing young people with accurate information on HIV & AIDS and sexuality take a pivotal place in UNESCO’s interventions.To this end UNESCO’s main partners will continue to be the Ministries of Education, which will be supported to implement comprehensive teaching and learning programs, both for teachers and students, and in assuring as solid coordination of the education sector response.

In the SSA region, UNESCO’s work is guided by the following major principles:

• Evidence based interventions All programs should be built upon clear, factual information (Know Your Epidemic), understanding the specific characteristics and impact of HIV & AIDS within the education sector.


• Standards of quality: All activities should be scientifically-accurate, culturally appropriate, gender responsive, age-specific, rights based and involve people living with HIV
• Capacity strengthening: Solidify appropriate coordination and harmonization mechanisms within the system to assure that the Ministry of Education has true leadership in managing the national education sector response


• Partnerships: As one of the co-sponsoring agencies of UNAIDS, UNESCO assists countries in achieving the overarching goal of universal access to comprehensive prevention, treatment, care and support.While grounded in country-led processes, UNESCO recognizes that partnership-building and coordination at country-level, as well as internal linkages, are essential to achieving universal access.


• Results-based: Building on evidence, UNESCO’s supports is for results-based interventions that have impact on measurable outcomes such as knowledge and attitude change, reduction in stigma and discrimination, and systemic strengthening Reflecting on indicators and ensuring consistent monitoring are therefore a pre-requisite

UNESCO also continues to engage as a main partner in eight other technical support areas in the UNAIDS Division of Labour.The focus on stronger, more strategic, and coordinated responses to prevent the further spread of HIV and to protect individuals, families, communities, institutions and nations from the impact of AIDS is at the heart of UNESCO’s work.