HIV and AIDS in Yemen, "Low prevalence, high Vulnerability"

The overall objective of this 4 year project was to strengthen the capacity of local civil society organisations in Yemen to better support vulnerable groups who are infected and affected by HIV and AIDS: these groups include women, refugees and migrant workers. This entailed strengthening the capacity, skills and knowledge of individuals, organisations and communities to help people make informed choices and to mitigate against further HIV infection. 

Main activities: 

  • to produce a Yemeni-specific, culturally appropriate toolkit of simple, effective and comprehensive messages on HIV prevention and gender with activities/materials for trainers, peer educators, local organizations.
  • to train associates on prevention, and to identify key people from each beneficiary group- women, refugees, fishing communities and migrant workers- to train as peer educators.
  • to establish local/national support networks for people living with HIV.
  • to train associates and trainers on nutrition, positive living, the maintenance of mental health, psycho-social support and basic counselling. These skills will be cascaded to people living with HIV. 
  • to train associates and people living with HIV in policy research, analysis and formulation, advocacy, coordinating stakeholders, networking, lobbying skills and strategies.
  • to coordinate national level meetings with NAP, and other stakeholders to share lessons on strategic responses to HIV and AIDS, and to lobby for national level improvements in policies and services.

Main achievements:

  • Partner organisations have significantly increased their capacity and willingness to better support people who are living with HIV/AIDS as well as people from the most at risk groups;
  • Improved psycho-social and network support for people living with HIV;
  • Increased knowledge and understanding of HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support among male and female faith leaders, and ability to preach accurate messages about HIV prevention and compassion for people living with the infection.

Start date: April 2010End date: March 2014Partner organisations: Abu Musa Al Ashary Charitable Association (Abu Musa), Interaction in Development Foundation (IDF) and, Women’s Association for Sustainable Development (WASD).Funded by the European Union

Improved water and sanitation for unregistered internally displaced people in Haradh

A series of socio-economic, environmental and political crisis have led to thousands of Yemenis fleeing their homes and taking refuge in temporary camps with poor water and sanitation facilities. This project addressed the lack of safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygine awareness faced by the unregistered internally displaced people in Haradh as well as their host communities through:

  • Protection of communal water points and provision of household water treatment systems (e.g. ceramic filters);
  • Hygiene awareness and education and provision of hygiene kits (e.g. soap, sanitary napkins);
  • Support the improvement of household sanitation facilities and practices (e.g. community initiatives to build latrines). 

Start date: January 2014End date: July 2014Partner organisations: National Foundation for Human Rights Development (NFHDR) Locations: Hajja governorateFunded by OCHA.

Improved WASH for marginalized people in Eastern and Western Albaida districts of  Hodeidah Governorate

This project was a joint collaboration between Progressio and PartnerAid in coordination with government entities and local partner organisations to carry out a rapid intervention addressing the critical WASH situation for the residents of the Al-Baydha’a area, one of the most affected by the WASH crisis in the Hodeidah Governorate.The intervention focused on three areas:

  • Support access to safe water: Protect communal water points (i.e. the source) and provide household water treatment systems (i.e. the consumption point). 
  • Support sustainable solutions: Engaged hygiene awareness and education to enhance healthy living 
  • Support facilities and infrastructures improvement; household sanitation facilities and practices to minimize risks of health hazards 

Start date: March 2014End date: August 2014Partner organisations: An-Nahda and MHRSD (Mercy Humanitarian Response and Sustainable Development)Locations: Hodeidah governorateFunded by the OCHA