Philippines Research Program

Aims of the Philippines Research Program

The principal aim of the Philippines Research Program (PRP) is to provide support for targeted research on the issue of drug use and IDU related HIV/AIDS in the Philippines, with the intent of developing a profile of the pattern of IDU related harms and HIV prevalence. Based on the evidence generated from the PRP, consideration will be given to supporting a Philippines Country Flexible Program in future years.

Objectives

The PRP will be conducted over two years commencing from mid-2009. The objectives of the Philippines Research Program are to contribute to the knowledge base on priority areas of:

Assessment of civil society involvement in the HIV/AIDS management system;

• Assessment of capacity of the health care system to respond to the growing HIV epidemic;
• Policy mapping of IDUs in aid of the amendment of the national policy/law on dangerous drugs and HIV;
• Baseline survey of IDU in Metro Manila (behavioural and serology for HIV and STIs);
• Evaluation of peer education package as an intervention strategy for STI, HIV and AIDS and assessment of IEC/BCC materials on STI, HIV and AIDS for MARPs, and
• Documenting IDU prevalence in MSM.

Implementing Partners

Research grants will be provided on a competitive basis to organizations in the Philippines with the ability to undertake detailed research around the programs core themes. Selection of preferred grantees will be made on a two-step basis with initial Expressions of Interest sought from which qualified organizations will be selected to prepare a full tender.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will be managing the PRP on behalf of HAARP and will be responsible for the tendering process. The RTCU will undertake a technical review of tender proposals and assist in the selection of preferred research providers.

Progress Updates

The Expression of Interest notification is expected to be released in July 2009 with submission of full tender proposals expected over the course of August and September.