In response to the alarming growth in HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender persons (TG) in Asia, a broad coalition of United Nations partners, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its cooperating agencies, national AIDS programs, city governments and MSM and transgender community-based organizations joined together in a unique partnership called the MSM and TG Multi-City HIV Initiative. The overall goal of the Initiative is to contribute to the scale up of effective, comprehensive and rights-based HIV responses for MSM and transgender persons in the six cities: Bangkok (Thailand), Chengdu (China), Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) (Viet Nam), Jakarta (Indonesia), Manila (Philippines) and Yangon (Myanmar). The focus on these large cities recognizes that it is in urban locations where HIV infection among MSM and transgender persons is concentrated.
Implementation of the MSM and Transgender Multi-City Initiative is made up of five phases:
1. Developing the methodology for the city scans and training of local consultants.
2. Scanning and analyzing the response to HIV in MSM and transgender persons in each of the six cities, with a focus on identifying promising practices and strategies.
3. Synthesizing lessons learned and promising strategies from the city scans.
4. Bringing the six cities together in December 2010 in a regional Action Planning Meeting where each of the cities developed their own action plan, building upon the learning from the scans.
5. Implementing the action plans in 2011.This report provides an outline of the rationale and approach taken by the MSM and TG Multi-City HIV Initiative, including key issues and lessons emerging from the city scans and a summary of the key inputs at the Action Planning Meeting in Hong Kong. Most importantly, the report contains the action plans developed by each of the cities and details of how regional partners will support
This report provides an outline of the rationale and approach taken by the MSM and TG Multi-City HIV Initiative, including key issues and lessons emerging from the city scans and a summary of the key inputs at the Action Planning Meeting in Hong Kong. Most importantly, the report contains the action plans developed by each of the cities and details of how regional partners will support implementation of these plans.
This report provides an outline of the rationale and approach taken by the MSM and TG Multi-City HIV Initiative, including key issues and lessons emerging from the city scans and a summary of the key inputs at the Action Planning Meeting in Hong Kong. Most importantly, the report contains the action plans developed by each of the cities and details of how regional partners will support implementation of these plans.
Hong Kong and Singapore took on the role of resource cities during the Action Planning Meeting by sharing critical success factors in their responses to HIV among MSM and transgender persons. Key features of the response by both these cities were strong collaboration between city governments, NGOs, MSM and transgender communities and the private sector, the development of innovative approaches to prevention and the promotion of HIV testing, linked to care and treatment.
