1) What is HAARP?
HAARP stands for HIV/AIDS Asia Regional Program. This eight year (2007-2015) AU$59m program is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). In addition, the Dutch Government has provided €4m to the Vietnam Country Program.
The goal of HAARP is to reduce the spread of HIV associated with drug use among men and women in South East Asia and China.
2) What is the geographic scope of HAARP?
HAARP consists of country level programs in Burma (Myanmar), China (Guangxi and Yunnan provinces), Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos; a research program in the Philippines; and a Technical Support Unit (TSU) based out of Bangkok, Thailand.
3) What does HAARP do?
HAARP supports the implementation of a harm reduction approach to HIV prevention among drug users. The defining features of harm reduction are: the focus on the prevention of harm, rather than on the prevention of drug use itself; and, a focus on reducing harm for those people who continue to use drugs. Harm reduction is pragmatic, evidence-informed and recognises that HIV prevention among drug users must involve public health and public security working together with drug-users and community organisations, to enable a coordinated approach to reducing drug related harm. For more details on harm reduction visit the IHRA website.
HAARP comprises two layers of activity focused on HIV and drug use - first, at the national level in five countries, and second, at the regional level. The intention is to support locally-specific, technically sound harm reduction responses to HIV risk associated with drug use as part of national HIV programs. In so doing to regional and national levels create a framework that promotes regional cooperation and addresses cross-border issues.
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4) What is HAARP's 'regional contribution' and what does the TSU do?
HAARP contributes to regional objectives through sharing with regional stakeholders the practical programmatic evidence gained in supporting the delivery of local harm reduction services.
The TSU based in Bangkok, is responsible for providing technical support to the Country Programs and for implementing regional activities which build on these national activities.
Key TSU activities include:
- technical support to Country Programs either directly or through contracting consultants and/or other expert organisations
- knowledge management, including the documentation and dissemination of good practice models from the region
- managing cross border harm reduction interventions
- support to AusAID and the Program Director in the area of advocacy.
HAARP's regional work makes a positive contribution in a number of ways:
- It can bring together a critical mass of expertise to support Country Programs and regional advocacy efforts;
- It provides a platform to share knowledge and experience on implementation;
- It can support advocacy efforts to resolve policy tensions around drug control and AIDS policies; and,
- It can facilitate cross border programming.
For more information on the HAARP regional program click here.
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5) What principles guide HAARP's work?
HAARP is guided by the following six principles:
- Nothing for us without us, which recognises the role that people affected by HIV and AIDS have to play in designing and delivering programs for them.
- Effectiveness: emphasising the importance of partnership and cooperation of all stakeholders - governments and communities alike.
- Evidence to action: emphasising the need for good quality, evidence based approaches to scaling up of harm reduction.
- Respect and protection: advocating for social change, the respect for human rights (including the right to health and treatment), and protection of people who use.
- Reducing vulnerability: creating and enabling environments that address the criminalisation of drug use and reduces the stigma and discrimination faced by drug users.
- Gender awareness and integration: advocating for a focus on the roles and needs of both men and women in relation to HIV and drug use with a special consideration for the specific needs of women, men who have sex with men and transgendered communities.
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6) What are the HAARP Country Programs?
HAARP country level programs (known as Country Programs or CPs) are implemented in Burma, China (Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces), Vietnam (Bac Kan, Hoah Binh and Tuyen Quangh Provinces), Cambodia and Laos.
These programs are managed at the country level by executing agencies or contactors overseen by the AusAID country posts. The TSU provides relevant guidance, support and technical assistance.
For more information on individual CPs click here.
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7) Who are the Implementing Partners of HAARP?
HAARP is implemented by a number of partners, including:
- The Australian Government, AusAID: Canberra, Bangkok and Country Program posts
- Government agencies in each of the HAARP countries.
- Other bilateral donors working to reduce HIV and AIDS in Asia, including the Netherlands Government
- Regional and Country Managing Contractors and Implementing Partners: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), World Health Organisation (WHO), UNDP, HLSP Ltd., Nossal Institute for Global Health and IDSS Pty.
- International/regional and national NGOs, and civil society and drug-user networks.
HAARP also closely collaborates with UNAIDS – both at country and regional levels.
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8) Is HAARP a small grants facility?
Consistent with the Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda for Action, HAARP works through government systems. As such, HAARP is not a small grants facility and is not in a position to fund activities of regional organisations. See below for more details on how HAARP works with NGOs.
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9) How does HAARP work with NGOs?
At country level, HAARP currently supports the work of 12 NGOs. HAARP provides funding to several NGOs, including Korsang, Friends International and KHANA in Cambodia; and Substance Abuse Research Association (SARA), Marie Stopes International (MSI), Myanmar Baptist Convention and the Myanmar Council of Churches. Through the TSU, HAARP also helps build NGO capacity for service delivery and advocacy.
In Vietnam, the HAARP Innovation Fund will provide support to Vietnamese community based organisations and groups. The Fund aims to develop innovative, partnership-based initiatives to complement wider HAARP Vietnam country program objectives and to contribute to the national response to HIV.
At a regional level, HAARP collaborates with Response Beyond Borders (RBB), Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (APN+), HIV/AIDS Alliance and Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN).
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10) How does HAARP work with drug users?
One of HAARP's guiding principles is 'nothing for us without us'. The program works with drug users through networks and self-help groups. A drug user representative also sits on the HAARP Advisory Board.
HAARP provides support to drug user networks, advocates for their inclusion in Country Program steering committees and ensures their views are included in country reviews. HAARP has held preparatory meetings with the Asian Network of People who use Drugs (ANPUD) to explore avenues of collaboration, including providing guidelines on workplace policies for drug users.
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11) What is the progress of HAARP?
In the first half of 2011, HAARP country programmes (CPs) reached 17,800 individuals (14,067 injecting drug users (IDUs) and 3,813 non-injecting drug users (DU)). This accounts for 432,369 client contacts over the reporting period and gives an average of 24.2 contacts per individual for January – June 2011. From January 2009 until June 2011, the HAARP CPs have made 1,455,242 service contacts (1,200,433 with IDU and 254,809 with DU).
For latest news on HAARP progress please refer to our quarterly newsletter and the progress updates under the five countries in the Country Programs section of this website.
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12) Who can I contact for more information?
For more information about HAARP please contact:
Wannee Achapisit (Ching), HAARP Communications Coordinator
T: + 66 2 643 8191-2
E: wannee.achapisit@haarp-online.org
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