Named Pehchān which in Hindi means ‘identity’, ‘recognition’ or ‘acknowledgement,’ this programme will strengthen and build the capacity of community-based organisations (CBOs) to provide HIV prevention programming for 453,000 men who have sex with men (MSM), transgenders and hijras in 17 Indian states. Pehchān is funded by the Global Fund under Round 9.

The Pehchān consortium includes Humsafar Trust, Maan AIDS Foundation, SAATHII, Sangama, and SIAAP. These partners work in selected states and provide organisational development, technical and capacity building support to CBOs.

Over the next five years, Pehchān will work closely with MSM, transgender and hijra communities to establish 90 new CBOs, while strengthening 110 existing ones. To help ensure sustainability, the project will help link CBOs to Targeted Interventions (TIs), a central element of India’s National AIDS Control Programme to reach high-risk groups with HIV prevention services. By supporting the development of strong CBOs, Pehchān will address some of the capacity gaps that have often prevented CBOs from receiving government funding for much-needed HIV programming.

Supported by UNDP India, Sashakt is designed to build capacity and strengthen community institutions serving MSM, transgender and hijra populations. It served as a pilot project to illustrate the effectiveness of the model proposed under Pehchān. The project has developed four new CBOs and strengthened two existing ones at sites in six states—Manipur, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The overall objective of the project is to support stronger CBOs for these communities to play a vital role in the national response to the HIV epidemic. Sashakt is being implemented in close coordination with the national and state governments.

Avāhan India AIDS Initiative is a focussed prevention initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Alliance India is one of two Avāhan state lead partners working in Andhra Pradesh, and LEPRA is one of our key implementing partners. Now in Phase II, Alliance India is implementing the programme in seven districts and has begun the process of transitioning activities to the state government. The goal of Avāhan is to reduce HIV transmission and the prevalence of STIs in vulnerable high-risk populations (female sex workers, MSM and transgenders) through prevention education and services. The programme also supports the creation of an enabling environment to increase the effectiveness of the HIV response through individual and organisational capacity building.

Alliance India’s efforts with Avāhan strengthen the capacity of NGOs and CBOs in the state to implement quality AIDS programmes in close partnership with the Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) and in accordance to its mandate under the national programme.