Sharing Information

Funded by 5% Initiative led by Expertise France, PULSE comprehends a 3-year long initiative encompassing research, community capacity strengthening and advocacy effort that aims to improve the lives of young gay and bisexual men and other young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Five countries of Greater Mekong are selected in the pilot phase of the project: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

PULSE will generate the strategic region-wide epidemiological and behavioural data on YMSM from each country and convert them into fact-driven and evidence-based advocacy products to aid the countries’ National AIDS Programmes and other Global Fund-funded interventions. The survey is expected to be launched in February 2018, with preliminary findings from the first survey round in April-May 2018. Simultaneously with the operational research activities, the initiative will also build the capacity of the community organisations leading the research and the advocacy efforts.

Together with the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Mahidol University of Thailand, as the project’s research institution partner, PULSE’s country community partners comprise of Bandanh Chaktomuk (BC) of Cambodia, Myanmar Youth Stars (MYS), Lao Positive Health Association (LaoPHA), Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand (RSAT), Vietnam Network of MSM and Transgender (VN-MSMTG). Click the map below to learn more about the community partners.

Through this project, APCOM aims to learn from the innovations of the JumpStart capacity strengthening programme that we conducted in 2015 and 2016 with the support from Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO). The project allows us to do so and work and strengthen the advocacy capacity of four community organisations for sexually and gender diverse people. APCOM, together with our partners in four different countries: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia and the Philippines, will generate strategic information to enhance the current evidence base on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer population (LGBTIQ) advocacy, and capacity strengthening approaches.

In general, the project aims to:

1. Provide technical support to our partners in strengthening their organisation in terms of governance, management, external partnerships and technical knowledge through APCOM’s Rapid Assessment Apparatus (Rap App), and to improve dissemination activities through Dissemination Plan Template (D-Plate);
2. Improve the access to social services through advocacy and inclusion of the LGBTIQ population in the national political discourses;
3. Increase capacity of LGBTIQ population in terms of their representation to national discourses, policy advocacy and SOGIE-related issues.

Together with these activities, APCOM is working on positioning the advocacy within the changing external environment and the newly adopted sustainability frameworks and agendas, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

APCOM opened an application for partners who will implement country activities to reach these objectives. The selected partners for this project are:

1. KHANA (Cambodia)

KHANA is a linking organization of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and the largest national NGO providing HIV prevention, care and support services at the community level in Cambodia, as well as integrated sexual and reproductive health, family planning, maternal child health, TB and livelihoods programming. Moreover, we also have significant capacity in delivering services and technical support across other technical areas including monitoring and evaluation, organizational and institutional development, research, grant management, policy and advocacy. KHANA’s institutional capabilities are reflected through its strong management structures and resources for effective project implementation, as well as the high calibre and experience of KHANA’s staff and associates.

2. LaoPHA (Lao PDR)

LaoPHA was formed in 1999 as an HIV and AIDS peer-education project known as Lao Youth AIDS Prevention or LYAP. And is part of the National network of the key affected population is the interactive focal point that linking the Nine provinces in Lao PDR. LaoPHA works to ensure the concerns and interests of key affected population community around the country are articulated and represented at the Provincial, National and Regional level. LaoPHA’s five priority areas are Community advocacy, Community mobilization and network strengthening, Human rights, Public health and Holistic activities.

3. Yayasan Gaya Dewata (Indonesia)

The Gaya Dewata Foundation (YGD) Bali is a non-profit organisation concerned with sexual health, HIV-AIDS and sexuality issues among vulnerable and underserved MSM, gay and transgender communities in Bali. YGD Bali is a community-based organization working in the field of health, especially in risk reduction programs concerned with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and AIDS for gay men, trans* women (waria) and MSM. YGD plays an active role in disseminating information about STIs and HIV-AIDS prevention through: 1) One-on-one and group information sessions for MSM, gay and transgender communities, 2) routine outreach activities, 3) STI and HIV-AIDS counselling, 4) Referral assistance for STI screening and HIV testing, 5) Providing support for PLHIV, 6) The facilitation of close working relationships with both government and non-government bodies, organisations and individuals in the furthering of ideas and the achievement of the goals of YGD.

4. TLF Share (The Philippines)

TLF SHARE is a non-profit, non-governmental organization of peer educators, trainers and advocates working on the sexual health, human rights, and empowerment of gay, bisexuals, other men who have sex with men, and transgenders. Community empowerment, human rights, and evidence-based interventions are the core of TLF SHARE’s mandate. To implement the program, TLF SHARE has collaborated with development institutions, national agencies, and international donors. TLF SHARE also sits in the Philippine National AIDS Council as the representative of the MSM and TG community. TLF SHARE are also affiliated with several national networks on HIV and SOGIE such as Dangal National Network, Network to Stop AIDS Philippines and LAGABLAB.