APNSW organises workshop for sex workers on The Global Fund

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APNSW sex worker Global Fund Workshop, NSWP
Author
Regional Correspondent Asia and the Pacific

Seventeen representatives of sex worker organisations in South Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe took part in a training workshop organised by the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW) in Siem Reap, Cambodia from 5-10 December, 2015. The workshop was part of series designed specifically for sex workers, to build the knowledge and ability of NSWP members to engage and work with The Global Fund mechanisms in their countries.

Participants found the training very helpful. “I was not aware that key populations can have meaningful involvement in The Global Fund system,” said Niger Sultana Lucky from HARC (Bangladesh). “I also learned that a sex worker can directly complain to the Office of the Inspector General if we witness any corruption or human rights violations,” she added. Lubna, from Pakistan, said “I never knew that sex workers can be Country Coordinating Mechanism members.”

The inclusion of key populations is important to effective The Global Fund programs. As members of key populations, and as community-based organisations working with key populations, sex worker groups and networks should be closely involved in contributing to their country’s The Global Fund National Strategic Plan, Country Dialogue and Concept Note. Also, sex worker groups and networks may be eligible to submit project proposals under a number of Global Fund categories ranging from direct HIV outreach work, to community system strengthening and human rights monitoring.

APNSW first conducted training on The Global Fund with their member organisations in 2010. Since then a number of sex worker groups in the region have been closely involved with The Global Fund’s work in their countries, including receiving funding for various projects.

However, in recent years APNSW became aware that other sex worker groups across the Asia Pacific region were not accessing funding opportunities that are available through The Global Fund. There were a number of reasons for this. Some were technical, such as self-organizing groups who do not have a legal identity not being eligible. However in other cases there was a lack of awareness of the details about how The Global Fund worked.

So with technical support from NSWP, The Global Fund and additional support from Robert Carr Network Fund, APNSW developed a new five-day training workshop, to introduce The Global Fund’s New Funding Model, with its emphasis on community empowerment (or Community Systems Strengthening) and the need for community monitoring and accountability in terms of human rights.

The workshop curriculum was developed in partnership between APNSW and NSWP in 2014, and the first global training of trainers took place in July 2015. Since then training has been delivered in Nairobi in partnership with Africa Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA), and twice in Cambodia with APNSW and sex worker organisations from Asia and the Pacific.

APSNW and Global NSWP members taking part in December 2015 included: Women for Freedom (Georgia); Tais Plus (Kyrgyzstan); Amelia (Kazakhstan); Legalife (Ukraine); SWAN (Hungary); HARC (Bangladesh); AINSW (India); Sheed Society (Pakistan).