The MSMGF Launches Kumã-Parlons En: A Francophone
Adaptation of the Speaking Out Adapted Toolkit in West Africa
The Global Forum on MSM and HIV (MSMGF) is
pleased to launch Kumã-Parlons En, a
Francophone adaptation of the Speaking Out toolkit. Originally developed in
2010 by the MSMGF and the Moroccan organization ALCS, this toolkit is designed
for use by all organizations in the Francophone West Africa region that
advocate for the right to health of MSM.
The
“Kumã”
Toolkit was adapted through a participatory, training-of-trainers workshop that
involved national and regional partners from across the region. ARCAD-SIDA from Mali, in partnership with ITPC MENA, hosted the
training in Marrakesh, Morocco, from November 1 to 5, 2014, and brought
together thirteen participants from Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso,
and Mali. Local experts led participatory exercises to facilitate
development of advocacy skills relevant to the HIV epidemic response amongst
MSM in the region, and to integrate lessons learned into the final version of
the toolkit.
By
adapting the “Kumã” Toolkit to the Francophone West African context,
MSMGF hopes to reinforce existing initiatives in the region. The
“Kumã” Toolkit is designed to strengthen local advocacy capacity focused on
addressing stigma, discrimination and violence – drivers of the HIV epidemic
among MSM. Over the past year, MSMGF supported the development of a brief needs
assessment on HIV and MSM in Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, and Togo. The needs assessment identified and documented
important structural and operational factors that promote or hinder HIV
services access among MSM in West Africa.
Please
visit http://www.msmgf.org/index.cfm/id/372/ to
learn more about Speaking Out in West Africa, and to download the “Kumã” Toolkit
and the needs assessment. All documents are in French.
Speaking Out Initiative is a technical and
funding assistance program to support HIV advocacy efforts and leadership
development at the grassroots level for men who have sex with men (MSM) and
transgender activists. For more information about the Speaking Out
Advocacy Initiative work in other regions/countries, please visit www.msmgf.org/speakingout.