Following on from the meeting to review the HAARP Advocacy Strategy in December 2009, and the decision to focus on country level rather than regional level advocacy efforts, an Advocacy Guidance Note has been completed for each country.
These notes were developed on the basis of key prioritised areas for country level advocacy action that were identified in the meeting. These notes were shared with Country Program partners ahead of their work planning for 2010-2011 to enable them to consider the inclusion of suggested advocacy approaches and activities.
To enable country level staff and program managers to respond to advocacy opportunities, a regional training event was organised in Vientiane, Laos (June 2010) on Communication, Advocacy and Program Management. Twenty participants attended this training and the evaluation results are positive.
High level advocacy
HAARP has actively supported and invested in the development of national multi-sectoral task forces, provincial and township coordination/ management committees in each country. These task forces routinely bring all relevant sectors (e.g. health, drug control, public security, social welfare) on board to discuss harm reduction interventions and policies.
To advocate for high impact HIV prevention activties, HAARP has also pitched it’s advocacy at a higher level. Examples include: engagement with the Deputy Prime Minister’s office in Vietnam during design negotiation process, and the recent engagement (March 2010) with the Deputy Prime Minister’s office in Cambodia to negotiate concessions after non-renewal of needle syringe licenses of an implementing partner and delay in approval of methadone plan. In both instances, Australian ambassadors, assisted by AusAID/ Program Director, led the missions. A similar strategy may soon be undertaken in Laos.
Cambodian Model
At country level, HAARP is assisting Cambodia CP to develop a concept note and discussion on the ‘Cambodian Model of Harm Reduction’. This is in response to the local feedback that the scale-up of harm reduction in Cambodia could only occur if a model of harm reduction that reflected a good understanding of local cultural norms and practices was pursued.
Response Beyond Borders
HAARP also provided a Briefing Note for Parliamentarians on HIV and Drug Legislation in Asia ahead of the Second Asian Consultation on the Prevention of HIV related to Drug Use in January 2010. This document was co-published with Response Beyond Borders and the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD). HAARP PD and TSU staff also attended this consultation, and provided presentations on sessions on compulsory treatment and gender.
Enabling Environments
Advocacy efforts to creating enabling environment will remain a key focus of all country programs. In Lao PDR, HAARP will focus on supporting the National Task Force in developing sound local data and relevant responses in the provinces where HAARP operates. In Cambodia, HAARP will work closely with National Authority for Combating Drugs in developing local, effective modalities for NSP as is the case in Myanmar. In Vietnam, HAARP will work with Ministry of Health, MOLISA and the Ministry of Public Security to ensure services are available for drug users in the communities and in closed settings.
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