EpiC Kenya Semi-Annual Report (FY21 Q3-Q4 April to September 2021)

The main areas of focus were capacity strengthening in key population (KP) programming, specifically cascading innovative strategies aimed at improving KP program outcomes and target achievement across the prevention, care, and treatment cascade. Capacity strengthening activities included training sessions for USAID care and treatment partners and their IPs on case identification, transgender programming, and continuation on treatment strategies. The training sessions also covered program monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and understanding of indicators. EpiC conducted routine supportive supervisions in six counties aimed at strengthening crisis response mechanisms, building awareness on violence, rights, and responses, sensitizing peer educators on violence and prevention, and engaging with law enforcement authorities and community members. During this period, EpiC provided technical assistance support to the USAID newly engaged local care and treatment partners for KP programming. Key activities included convening virtual TA sessions for four USAID care and treatment partners and their IPs. The sessions covered topics such as transgender HIV programming, orientation on monitoring and evaluation tools, and case identification strategies. The above sessions led to improvement in performance in case identification, with one of the USAID Boresha Jamii Partner, Kenya AIDS NGO Consortium (KANCO), reporting an increase in overall case finding from 7% to 12.8% after TA was provided. EpiC also supported IPs to undertake activities to address cases of violence, which had increased during the COVID-19 period. Peers experienced violence from perpetrators such as law enforcers and clients. Stakeholders were engaged to mitigate the incidences and strategies were put in place to address violence. These included engaging with police and law enforcement agencies to address violence in the community and working with IPs to ensure all cases of violence are addressed. During the reporting period, 1,654 cases of violence were documented in the six counties of implementation. Sensitization of peer educators on violence response during monthly review meetings was also a key activity. Peer educators were sensitized on human rights and violence prevention during their monthly review meetings to ensure timely response to cases and proper documentation of the same. The teams discussed the cases reported in the month, perpetrators, response, and how to mitigate challenges that might be encountered in future. Building awareness on violence, rights, and response was also a key activity, with EpiC IPs using different avenues to build awareness on violence, rights, and response. Paralegal and refresher trainings were conducted with support from National AIDS Control Program (NASCOP) certified trainers. Three IPs conducted paralegal trainings whose objective was to understand human rights of KPs, recognize the rights violation of KPs, and understand and be able to develop a paralegal program. Bar Hostess Empowerment and Support Program (BHESP), Jinsiangu, and Tamba Pwani conducted refresher trainings for 40 paralegals. The trainings empowered participants with knowledge, and they were able to update their knowledge on identifying GBV cases, reporting, and supporting survivors of violence. Advocacy training was also conducted by BHESP and Jinsiangu for 50 peer educators, outreach workers, and paralegals. The trainings were facilitated by NASCOP certified trainers, county trainers, and private law firms. The trainings were guided by the following objectives to differentiate advocacy activities from other types of HIV/AIDS strategies, think creatively about different approaches to advocacy, learn and explore critical issues relating to the key population, and develop skills such as communication, presentation, facilitation, and conduct.