Join the survey

Provide Input on WHO Guidelines for Service Delivery to MSM and Transgender People!

Dear all,

The World Health Organization (WHO) is developing guidelines for delivering an evidence-based, essential package of interventions for the prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people in the health sector. 

The Global Forum on MSM and HIV (MSMGF) has been contracted to systematically solicit civil society input from MSM and transgender advocates in the form of individual telephone interviews with MSM and transgender people as part of the guidelines development process.

Interviews will focus on values and preferences MSM and transgender people may have regarding a range of HIV and STI prevention and treatment interventions. The MSMGF will conduct interviews by phone or Skype and compile input into a formal report that will be publicly available. All interviews will be anonymous - we will not be collecting identifying information.  Interviews will help to strengthen guidelines the WHO develops for MSM and transgender communities worldwide.

To be a part of this process and other MSMGF research activities, please sign up for the MSMGF Survey Panel. You can join the MSMGF Survey Panel by registering at http://www.msmgf.org/index.cfm/id/1/ (it takes about one minute to register).  Once you have registered, an option will appear to sign up for the MSMGF Survey Panel.  Please note that we will not be able to interview everyone who signs up due to time limitations.  Any questions or comments can be directed to contact -at- msmgf.org.

This is a very important opportunity to influence a guidance document that will be used by organizations providing services to MSM and transgender people around the world.  Please circulate among your networks!

Thank you very much!

The MSMGF

[Posted by Jack Beck, Communications Associate of MSMGF, on AP-Rainbow mailing list, 2010-08-07]

LGBT autobiographies

Restoried Selves: Autobiographies of Queer Asian-Pacific-American Activists

Restoried Selves: Autobiographies of Queer Asian / Pacific American Activists presents the first-person accounts of 20 activists—life stories that work against common stereotypes, shattering misconceptions and dispelling misinformation. These autobiographies challenge familial and cultural expectations and values that have traditionally forced queer Asian / Pacific Americans into silent shame because of their sexual orientation and/or ethnicity. Authors share not only their experiences growing up but also how those experiences led them to become social activists, speaking out against oppression.

Many harmful untruths—or “stories”—about queer Asian-Pacific Americans have been repeated so often, they are accepted as fact. Restoried Selves provides a forum for voices often ignored in academic literature to “re-story” themselves, addressing a range of experiences that includes cultural differences and values, conflicts between different generations in a family or between different groups in a community, and difficulties and rewards of coming out. Those giving voice to their stories through narrative and other writing genres include the transgendered and intersexed, community activists, youths, and parents.

The stories told in Restoried Selves reflect on:

• Personal experiences—based on country of origin, educational background, religion, gender, and age
• Populations served by activism, including the working poor, immigrants, adoptees, youth, women, and families
• Different arenas of activism, including schools, governments, social services, and the Internet
• Issues targeted by activism, including affirmative action, HIV/AIDS education, mental health, interracial relationships, and sexual violence
• Institutions in need of change, including legal, religious, and educational entities

Restoried Selves is an essential read for academics and researchers working in Asian American studies, ethnic studies, gender studies, and queer studies, and for LGBTQ youth and their parents, teachers, and social service providers.

[Posted by Paul Causey, AP-Rainbow mailing list, 2010-07-26]

Call for EOI: APN+ MSM working group

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR
CORE GROUP OF APN+ MSM WORKING GROUP

The APN+ MSM Working Group is an integral part of APN+ and works in the interests of HIV+ MSM in the Asia Pacific region with the following vision:

“Positive MSM will be accepted equally in their communities free from stigma and discrimination and their human rights will be respected, including their right to a fulfilling sex life. All positive MSM will have access to the means to maximise their health, including equitable access to MSM friendly prevention, care, treatment and support services.”

The APN+ MSM Working Group was formed in early 2007 and now wishes to move to a more formalised structure in order to ensure good governance and effective implementation of its mission and work plans. Central to this new structure is the establishment of a Core Group.  This is a call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) to serve on this Core Group. Core Group members must be HIV+ MSM. Preference will be given to those who work with positive MSM communities in their own countries. The business of the Core Group is conducted in English and so an ability to communicate in English is essential.

Terms of Reference of the MSM Working Group is available on the APN+ website. In particular please note:

“The Core Group of the APN+ MSM Working Group will come from the four sub-regions of the Asia Pacific. Ideally members should be nominated by their national PLHIV networks, but in cases where that is not possible a nomination may be made by the Coordinator and endorsed by a member of the APN+ Steering Committee. Core Group members will serve a term of two years, with an ability to be re-nominated for a second two year term if appropriate. The APN+ MSM Coordinator will handle the nomination process, which will be overseen by the APN+ Executive Director, and any membership of the Core Group would require endorsement by the APN+ Steering Committee. Members of the Core Group are expected to communicate regularly with APN+ and positive MSM in their locations, contribute actively to discussions and promote the Working Group and its activities.”

Please send Expressions of Interest (EoI) indicating experience, skills and current work to the APN+ MSM Working Group Coordinator by JULY 31st 2010. It is preferred that nominations are made (endorsed) by the National PLHIV network of your country where possible.

[Posted by Paul Causey, MSM-Asia mailing list, 2010-07-20]

MSM, TG and Digi-Tech

Call for Papers for Special Themed Issue

Building the HIVe: Increasing social and political science representation in the HIV field by MSM and TG communities deploying digital technologies

This special themed issue of Digital Culture & Education (DCE) will showcase the diverse ways that men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender (TG) communities deploy networked and mobile technologies to intervene in HIV public health and education practices in ways to confront stigma, realise health, sexual and human rights, and improve HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support. This call for papers targets participants from the Global Forum on MSM and HIV’s (MSMGF) pre-conference entitled, “Be Heard” and the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, but also invites contributions from activists, artists, researchers, and service-providers not attending. The ambition is to share and learn from effective practices in using digital technologies to scale up Universal Access to HIV-related prevention, care, treatment, and support for sexual minority communities worldwide.

Editors: Gurmit Singh, University of Leeds; Christopher S. Walsh, The Open University; George Ayala, The Global Forum on MSM and HIV

Despite the change in behaviours and sexual practices due to networked and mobile technologies, there remains a lack of willingness to rethink current paradigms for HIV interventions aimed at changing individual behaviours. Effective prevention programmes must now respond to digitally-based and -driven sexual-social behaviours in a global network society geared towards maximising sexual pleasure. The ubiquity of networked, mobile technologies, and the proliferation of social networking tools, combined with the realisation that HIV is a profoundly social disease, challenges current disciplinary biomedical approaches to HIV. Yet, there is a lack of necessary investment in social and political science research on the public health added value of deploying the Internet and mobile technologies by MSM and TG communities for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support.

This special themed issue presents dynamic interventions that draw on the capabilities of networked and mobile technologies, to build the ‘HIVe.’ The HIVe is an open, non-hierarchical, fluid ecology of HIV activists, practitioners, researchers, and scholars, that actively advocate, disseminate, and promote localised and successful intervention-based practices and challenges. The HIVe exploits the Internet and mobile technologies to advance the impact of the social and political sciences for Universal Access in MSM and TG communities. This special themed issue of Digital Culture & Education (DCE) begins a journey to build the HIVe by developing, exploring, and substantiating the creative and effective merging of HIV and ‘e’ around sexual-social practices and networks, which can shape and influence the future of interdisciplinary and interconnected public health, human rights and education programmes and policies.

Submissions from gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community-based organizations that deploy networked and/or mobile technologies in their programmes and interventions are particularly relevant. These manuscripts could be case studies, impact evaluations, or community-based applied research narratives, that illuminate potential openings for advocacy and for policy change in approaches to community-based HIV interventions. Submissions can include “traditional” print texts on empirical research, as well as non-traditional approaches and formats (e.g. descriptions of artefacts, digital storytelling, audio-visual art, etc.).

Potential research and practice questions are:

* What are the characteristics of community-driven social and political science approaches in concentrated epidemics that add value to the effectiveness of public health interventions using networked and mobile technologies for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support?

* What strategic and theoretical insights from these emerging community-based social and political science approaches can be woven together to conceptualize and build the HIVe – a systems-based model for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, that draws together community development, public health, digital culture and education, and technology?

DCE is committed to building research literacy in social and political science approaches and encourages submissions from developing country authors, from non-scientific and non-native English speaking backgrounds. The journal will offer targeted online mentoring to authors who submit papers of high potential for consideration.

Interested authors should send their manuscripts to the editor of Digital Culture & Education by October 1, 2010.

[Posted by Paul Causey, MSM-Asia mailing list, 2010-07-15]

APCOM's new board, director and funding

APCOM First Governing Board sets long-term agenda to tackle HIV among MSM and transgender people in Asia Pacific

Landmark coalition also chooses Executive Director; gets major funding boost

Pattaya, Thailand – The Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM) has moved from an interim governance structure to one incorporating a Governing Board and an Executive Director, considerably strengthening its capacity to address a sharp rise in HIV infection in men who have sex with men and transgender populations across the region. At the same time, APCOM's key donor, HIVOS, has announced a renewal of its commitment to APCOM for another three years and at an increase of 50% for core costs.

Like the interim body that preceded it, APCOM's new, wide-ranging Governing Board continues to include a range of MSM and transgender community representatives from across the region as well as coalition sector advisors from government, United Nations agencies, donors, and technical experts. "The new roster of representatives marks our transition from a fledgling to an established coalition," said Shivananda Khan, Chief Executive of Naz Foundation International, from its regional office in Lucknow, India. Khan is also the newly elected Chairperson of the APCOM Governing Board. "In a little more than three years, our unusual coalition has already helped push the HIV and MSM/TG agenda significantly higher on national and regional agendas. This has made crucial issues far more visible, pushing governments and other influential stakeholders to craft and implement long overdue policies aimed at HIV prevention among communities that remain perhaps the most vulnerable to infection both in our region and globally."

The election of the first Governing Board was accompanied by the naming of Steven Gu as APCOM's first Executive Director, and with that the imminent shift of the APCOM Secretariat from Lucknow to Bangkok. Gu, who hails from China, is well-known in HIV advocacy and policy on the mainland, and will be based in Thailand to assist APCOM's outreach to key regional supporters and stakeholders, including the regional offices of the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and others as well as the Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) of the World Health Organization (WHO), which officially joined APCOM at its meeting in Pattaya, Thailand.

APCOM's work to date received a ringing endorsement at the Governing Board meeting when the coalition's chief donor, Hivos of the Netherlands (Humanist Institute for Co-operation with Developing Countries), announced it was renewing support for another three years while increasing its funding for the coalition by no less than 50% over its commitment of the past three years.  "We are so very impressed by the groundbreaking efforts of APCOM so far, that our board readily agreed to continue funding these efforts at a considerably higher level," noted Paul Jansen, Hivos Program Officer for LGBT Rights. "Joining forces with others to bring about important social policy change is crucial to the work of Hivos. APCOM exemplifies that ethic, forging ties across the political and civil society spectrum, bringing diverse parties to the table at the same time to engage in dialogue and advocacy that eventually gets transformed into concrete policy, a verifiable return on investment."

Representatives at the APCOM Governing Board meeting passed a budget and work plan to build on the accomplishments of the first three years by strengthening and expanding the coalition's current agenda to encompass areas that include a greater regional push for universal access to HIV prevention, care and treatment services for MSM and TG; increased investment in urgently needed research to better inform service and program design; the strengthening of MSM and TG community networks that engage in policy development; and continued efforts to push for the repeal of laws that criminalize MSM and transgender populations.

"Transgender people are so very different from MSM, yet the world tends to clump us together," explained Joleen Mataele, Executive Director of the Tonga Leiti Association, Chairperson of the Pacific Sexual Diversity Network and Community Representative from the Pacific on the APCOM Governing Board. "Through the work of APCOM, TG populations from the Pacific and Asia are educating governments and policy makers as to what our specific identities are, what our specific health needs are, not just when it comes to HIV but beyond.  APCOM seeks to advocate for and support different communities across different environments, and that is one of its strengths."

Several APCOM Governing Board representatives will be attending the upcoming International AIDS Conference in Vienna, hosting or otherwise participating in various sessions on MSM and TG issues including the day-long MSM pre-conference of the Global Forum on MSM & HIV. The leadership is also firming up APCOM's activities to be presented at next year’s 10th International Congress on AIDS in the Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) in Busan, South Korea, following APCOM’s highly successful series of satellites, meetings and workshops at ICAAP9 in 2009 in Bali, Indonesia.

[Posted by Paul Causey, MSM-Asia mailing list, 2010-06-30]

ICASO demands on MDG document

Urgent Action! Endorse Demands for the MDG Outcome Document

June 23, 2010

Dear all, 

The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) participated in the recent meeting of global AIDS advocates described below. Please take a moment to read the series of demands produced at this meeting concerning the Millennium Development Goals (linked below); we urge you to sign on your organization by July 25th!

Any questions can be directed to MSMGF Policy Associate Mohan Sundararaj at msundararaj@ msmgf.org.  

*** 

A group of AIDS activists met in New York June 10-11, 2010, and agreed on a series of demands to be incorporated into the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Outcome Document (to be approved at the MDG Summit in September 2010). You are urged to add your organization to this set of demands, by sending an email to universalaccess2010 @icaso.org. Endorsements will be collected by email and also at the International AIDS Conference (ICASO booth # 901 in the Global Village). The demands will immediately be used for negotiations, and the full list of endorsements will be sent to all UN Missions in New York, and other key stakeholders by July 25.

Download the English and Spanish pdf versions of the document: English, Spanish 

Thank you!

 [Posted by Jack Beck on MSM-Asia mailing list, 2010-06-23]

MSMGF's policy brief on MSM and HIV

Global Forum on MSM & HIV Launches New Policy Brief, HIV Prevention with MSM: Balancing Evidence with Rights-based Principles of Practice

June 14, 2010

Dear Friends of the Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF),

The MSMGF is pleased to announce the launch of our newest policy brief, HIV Prevention with MSM: Balancing Evidence with Rights-based Principles of Practice. This document details the current context for the development and implementation of HIV prevention efforts targeting MSM, provides an overview of available MSM-specific HIV prevention strategies, and offers a look at recent guidelines from global health institutions. Recommendations emphasize the importance of respecting the role of MSM in efforts to determine research, policy, and program priorities, as well as other core principles of practice that are often overlooked in policy discussions.

The document is available for download HERE.

We encourage you to share this important policy brief with your networks! Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish translations are forthcoming.

Sincerely,


The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF)


[Posted by Jack Beck on AP-Rainbow mailing list]

Announcement: APCOM membership

[Posted by Aditya Bondyopadhyay, ap-rainbow, 22 November 2008.]

Membership Drive of APCOM

The Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM) is a multi sectoral international coalition representing the government sector, the donors, the UN, technical experts, and community organizations and networks working for and on the issues of MSM/Transgender and HIV. The coalition was officially launched in July 2007 at the 8th ICAAP in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

APCOM advocates and promotes:

1. Increased investments on MSM/Transgender HIV programming in the Asia Pacific region.
2. Scaled up HIV and sexual health services for MSM/Transgender in the Asia Pacific region.
3. Improved knowledge to better inform programming and service delivery on MSM/Transgender issues in the region
4. Address stigma, discrimination, and social justice concerns of MSM and transgender is the Asia Pacific region.
5. Promote good practices in MSM/Transgender HIV programming as defined in the "Risks and Responsibilities Consultation 2006" held in New Delhi, India.

The coalition has divided the Asia Pacific region into seven sub-regions (China, Developed Asia, India, Greater Mekong sub-region, Pacific, South Asia excluding Inida, South East Asia excluding GMS).

Representatives of these sub regions are elected to be on the board of APCOM by member organizations in the particular sub-region.

For more information about APCOM, its structure, activities and achievements please visit the APCOM website at www.msmasia.org.

We urge all organizations and networks working on MSM/Transgender HIV issues in the countries of Asia and the Pacific to become members of APCOM, so that they can participate in the upcoming elections of APCOM board, so that their voice can be heard through their sub regional representatives.

Registration can be done online and this is the preferred method. Please visit the following URL to do this:

http://www.msmasia.org/onlineapply.html

In case you are unable to access the registration online please write me for sending you a hard copy of the manual form, which you can then fill up and return to me for processing your registration.

We encourage all appropriate organizations to come together to fight for the health and human rights of MSM and transgender persons, and help us do the same by becoming our member and strengthening our hands.

Announcement: World AIDS Day statement

[Posted on SEA-AIDS eForum, 16 November 2008.]

Action: Leadership statements – Asia-Pacific
World AIDS Campaign

Dear SEA-AIDS members,

This year, we would once again like to collect leadership statements for World AIDS Day. We are looking for a brief (apx. 100 word) statement that reflects either: why leadership is needed, particularly with your field or constituency; or examples of how you, or others within your field are leading in the response to AIDS.

Here are some examples of statements from 2007.

With the statement, please do include a photo of yourself (jpeg or similar format) as well as your full name and title.

Please email statements HERE.

Announcement: Faisal's blogs

[Posted by Faisal Alam, ap-rainbow, 15 November 2008.]

Salaam folks,

Be sure to check out my blogs on the latest news and articles on issues of interest to our communities:

• Progressive Muslims United
• Queer Muslim Revolution
• HIV/AIDS & Islam

Thanks!

Faisal

Announcement: Diversity celebration in Bangkok

[Posted by Hua Boonyapisomparn, msm-asia, 11 November 2008.]

Dear Friends,

Thailand Queer Network would like to invite you to join the celebration of Thailand's first National Human Rights Day for Sexual Diversity. The event will be held between 9am-5pm on Saturday November 29, 2008 at Lido cinema, Siam Square, Bangkok.

Our theme for this year is "Towards a Clear Sky". The program will include colorful performances to celebrate sexual diversity; lively discussions on the titles law for transgenders, same-sex marriage and LGBTI youth; talk show by the infamous Day Freeman; seminar on LGBTI rights in Thailand; and screening of award-winning Thai Queer Short Films. The full-day event will culminate in the first Rainbow Umbrella March, from Lido to the Bangkok Art and Cultural Center between 4pm-5pm. (Rainbow umbrellas will be provided.)

All proceeding will be in Thai. However, non-Thai speakers are more than welcome to join the Rainbow Umbrella March. We hope to see hundreds of you there!

For more information, contact Paisarn at 66-81-634 3450 or email asiantrekker@yahoo.com and Sitthiphan (Hua) huab2007@gmail.com.

[MSWord document of program can be downloaded HERE.]

Announcement: Action alert for Bangalore

[Consolidated from several posts by Manohar Elavarthi, Paula Ettelbrick and Grace Poore, ap-rainbow, first posted on 08 November 2008.]

Action Alert: Demand action against Bengaluru (India) Police, who brutally assaulted sexual minorities and human rights defenders

The incident: On 20th October, Bengaluru police brutally attacked five sexual minority activists and arrested them on false charges when they tried enquiring about the illegal detention of five hijras (working class male-to-female transgenders). Police illegally detained and assaulted a large number of human rights defenders when they held a peaceful protest against the illegal police actions. Police also arrested 31 human rights defenders on false charges.

Action: Coalition for Sexworkers and Sexual Minorities (a coming together of social movements and human rights groups in Bengaluru to resist police violence and to defend sexual minority human rights) requests you send emails or faxes to Indian authorities demanding action against guilty police for the crimes committed against human rights defenders. More information about the incident and the pretest actions is available HERE.

Please send a copy of your letter to advocacysangama@gmail.com.

VIEW ACTION ALERT HERE. [PDF file of Action Alert can also be downloaded HERE.]

Announcement: amfAR MSM Initiative

[Sent to personal inbox, amfAR MSM Awards, 04 November 2008.]

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: amfAR MSM INITIATIVE

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking to support front-line organizations and networks in the Caribbean working to address HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Individual organizations are eligible for awards of up to US$15,000. Collaborations are eligible for awards of up to $40,000. The deadline for submitting proposals is December 3.

The RFP, application form, application instructions, and additional information about the MSM Initiative can be found HERE. Contact msm.awards@amfar.org if you have problems accessing this information.

The MSM Initiative, founded and administered by amfAR, and benefiting from collaboration with the Global Forum on MSM and HIV, UNAIDS, and many other partners, is a global effort to fight the spread of HIV among men who have sex with men in the developing world. The objectives of the MSM Initiative include supporting front-line organizations and collaborations working to address HIV among MSM; supporting research to build understanding of HIV epidemics and interventions among MSM; and supporting effective policies, and increased public funding for HIV prevention and treatment efforts among MSM.

Announcement: Documenting experiences workshop

[Sent to personal inbox, Madeleen Wegelin, 04 November 2008]

The Alliance Technical Support Hub (Manila) is pleased to invite someone of your organization to a workshop on writing skills for documentation of NGO experiences in HIV and AIDS in The Philippines.

Where and when

The workshop will be conducted in SEAMO INNOTECH convention centre located at Commonwealth Ave., Diliman Quezon City, Philippines. This centre is well equipped for workshops, it has guest rooms that are simple and comfortable. All participants will be staying overnight during the workshop in order to reduce travel time and to increase mutual learning and networking.

Dates are December 9-12.

Why do we have this workshop

In The Philippines, the HIV epidemic may be labeled as low prevalence, but is now categorized as hidden and growing. There are epidemics growing among the "most-at-risk-populations". The recent report of the Commission on AIDS in Asia recommends a focus of prevention programs on interventions that have been shown to work and that can reduce the maximum numbers of new infections. The Philippines as many countries in Asia face difficult public policy and legislative problems with regard to sex work, sexuality (including MSM, transgender, youth), and drug use. In addition, widespread poverty, and a general lack of access to effective health and welfare services by the poor and disadvantaged in both rural and urban areas, means that the challenges of developing targeted intervention programs, and ensuring coverage of vulnerable groups, are particularly acute. This also applies to HIV positive people, who need support not only to access care and treatment, but also for impact mitigation. There are community based organizations and NGOs in the country that have been able to carry out effective interventions, but these are rarely documented. If such interventions need to scale up, this documentation is necessary.

During the profiling visits to NGOs conducted by Alliance Technical Support Hub (Manila) staff in The Philippines and Indonesia, was indicated that lack of writing skills is a major obstacle for NGOs. They are not able to document the experiences in order to share and scale-up and it also reduces their ability to write proposals. Therefore for these NGOs writing skills is one of the Technical Support requirements that are their priority.

In holding this workshop, we will be able to start building up an inventory of good practices in The Philippines (and the University of the Philippines may be interested in doing a small publication on this).

For who is the workshop

The workshop is primarily aimed at staff of NGOs and CBOs, although staff of governmental or private organizations that serve the most at risk populations may also be participating if they have a successful program. Pre-condition is that the NGO/CBO has a project/program that is firmly established and has a positive outcome.

From such organization we select a staff on the basis of the following criteria:

• The participant has to be fully aware of all ins and outs of the project/program
• Ability to document the experiences in English (even if basic)
• Participant is likely to be involved in project and proposal writing in future

What are the objectives of the workshop:

• To enable the participants to write down and analyze their experience in a structured manner
• To have a draft document at the end of the workshop
• To exchange and learn from each others experience
• To use the documents for their own advocacy and proposal writing
• To use the documents to present an abstract in the ICAAP 2009

How are we going to conduct the workshop

The workshop will be facilitated by Leny Felix and Madeleen Wegelin of the Alliance Technical Support Hub (Manila). Both have a long term experience in conducting workshops and writeshops and have been working with NGOs on writing down their experiences and interventions before.

Each section (aim of the project, justification, context, planning process, implementation, resource requirements, monitoring, impact, challenges, lessons learnt) will be introduced by a facilitator and during a brainstorm we will make sure that every participant has a full understanding of why a section is necessary to be included and what items should be covered in the section. This is followed by breaking up in 5 groups of 4 participants in which each participant first has to tell the others what has happened in the project for the topic of this section. The others can ask for clarifications – this enables the writer to understand what has to be put on paper so outsiders understand. Then, each participant writes down the particular section in the workshop session, supported by the facilitators. For those that do not have a computer, these will be provided.

Participation fee

For all organizations belonging to or primarily working with the HIV positive community, a 100% grant is given by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance – this means the workshop is free for them. A number of other scholarships from the same source will be (partly) available for other organizations, depending on the financial capacity of their organization – this means that the workshop is free or partly free. We would advise interested NGOs to seek sponsorship for their attendance, especially those who need to travel from outside NCR. We will also endeavor to seek sponsorship for other sources.

The official fee for participation in the workshop is Php 15,710 per person and this covers training fee, accommodation, food, training kit, logistics etc. In addition, for participants coming from outside Manila, travel costs have to be added (this is not covered in this fee) and possibly two nights accommodation.

What to do next

If there is anyone in your organization that responds to the criteria and is interested to participate, please let me know and indicate if you have access to a sponsor. It would be good if you tell us what practice the person will be bringing to write down.

Announcement: Info-activism camp

[Posted by Ryan Schlief, ap-rainbow, 04 November 2008]

From Tactical Tech Collective:

We are proud to announce our next big event - The Info-Activism Camp in India, February 2009. Below you will find more details of the camp as well as the application form. We would really appreciate it if you could pass this onto others who might be interested in participating. Please also refer to the website www.informationactivism.org for more information about the camp. Please note that this website will be developed further in the coming months. Thanks once again for your interest in the camp and good luck with the application form.

THE INFO-ACTIVISM CAMP: This is the first-ever international camp on Info-Activism and is a week-long affair. The event will bring together 120 rights advocates, technologists, designers and activists working in the global South to share skills and ideas on digital advocacy.

DATES: This is a seven day long workshop, to be held in Bangalore, India from the 19th to the 25th of February 2009. If you would like to participate, you will need to attend the entire event, which means arriving in Bangalore on or before the 18th and leaving on or after the 26th of February 2009.

FEES AND SUBSIDIES: Participants will arrange for and fund their own travel to Bangalore. Once there, transport to the venue from the airport in Bangalore will be provided. We ask for a participation fee of 100 Euros to cover meals and accommodation during the meeting. In case you are unable to cover your travel or participation costs, please indicate in the application form below.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: This is an event for experienced professionals actively working with marginalised communities and the on-profit sector in the global South, with experience in advocacy and campaigning, and regional or international networks. Camp participants will be advocates, technologists, designers and strategists who have used OR PLAN TO USE technology tools and tactics in their campaigns. They need not be experts but need to have a proven aptitude for the use of technology tools and basic computing skills along with a track-record of active involvement in rights advocacy initiatives.

We are interested in a range of skills and expertise, be it in campaigning, design or technology. We are particularly interested in applications from advocates who deal with issues such as Sex Workers Rights, HIV and AIDS, LGBT rights and environmental justice.

Participants whose work centres on the gathering, dissemination and design of information would benefit immensely.

ELIGIBILITY:

1. To be eligible to attend, you will need to send a completed application form by the 8th of November 2008 by noon GMT.
2. All participants at the Info-Activism Camp are required to be proficient desktop users of computers.
3. All participants must be available from 18th till the 26th of February 2009.

Applications from women are highly encouraged.

Announcement: Manila Pride 2008

[Posted by Bruce, lgbtactivist, 27 October 2008]

Dear Friends,

Rainbow Greetings!

Task Force Pride (TFP) would like to invite you and/or your group to participate in the 2008 Manila Pride March, which will happen in Malate on 6 December 2008, Saturday, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. On-site registration and assembly is from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM at the Remedios Circle or you can pre-register your participation online.

Theme. This year's Pride March pays tribute to: our rights, our lives, our loves, our selves. Thus, we envision the 2008 Manila Pride March to be the most visually spectacular to date. We encourage you to put on your best fairytale and fantasy costume, design your float accordingly and help transform the streets of Malate into a bursting display of rainbow colors and pride. The March is open to all human rights- and equal rights-believing individuals regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Route. The route of this year's march is: Remedios Circle-Remedios Street-MH Del Pilar-Pedro Gil-Maria Orosa Street.

The march will be followed by the coronation of Miss Queen Philippines, the official Pride Queen of the 2008 Manila Pride March with a brief cultural program showcasing both LGBT and non-LGBT talents and culminate in a street party along Maria Orosa Street by the Orosa-Nakpil Courtyard.

Significance. The Pride March is known for its overwhelming attendance. It attracts thousands of participants and generates extensive local and international media attention.

This year's Pride March is particularly significant as it marks TFP's 10th year, coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR60) and the launch in Manila of the Yogyakarta Principles, an international declaration which affirms sexual orientation and gender identity and expression as fundamental human rights.

Please confirm your participation by contacting Bruce Amoroto, head of our Participation Committee at +63.916.282.6781 or via email. Sections in the March will be designated for unorganized LGBT in the Philippines, parents-families-friends of LGBTs, and international delegates. For interested international participants to the March, you may sign on HERE and at International Delegates 2008 Manila Pride March Facebook Group.

We hope that you will choose to make this year's Pride celebration a more festive, colorful and meaningful event with your participation.

Thank you.

Warmly,

Bruce

Announcement: Survey for Gates Foundation donors meet

[Posted by L Ramakrishnan, ap-rainbow, 24 October 2008]

On October 30th, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is hosting a meeting of donors who focus their grant making on HIV, LGBT, sexual and reproductive health, and human rights. The purpose is to identify opportunities for collaboration to support the needs of MSM living in developing countries.

Prior to this meeting, we are conducting a quick, informal survey of advocates and implementers working around the world on issues pertaining to MSM. We would greatly appreciate your feedback and will provide any responses you wish to give to the funders attending this meeting. Your responses are anonymous, even if you provide your email address for further information.

You can fill out the survey by clicking on this link

The survey closes at 1pm Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5) on Wednesday Oct 29th.

Thank you for your responses.

Announcement: GALANG screenings

[Posted by GALANG, tfpmanila, 23 October 2008]

GALANG Screenings at Mag:net's Cinekatipunan

As part of GALANG's (Gay and Lesbian Activist Network for Gender Equality Inc.) fundraising efforts for our community organizing and capacity-building activities, we are proud to be a part of Mag:net's Cinekatipunan on all Saturdays of November (except November 1). On November 8, 15, 22, and 29, GALANG will hold FREE SCREENINGS of foreign LGBT films, the specifics of which are to be determined by this online poll. While admission to the screenings is ABSOLUTELY FREE, we encourage our friends and supporters to give a minimum donation of P50 to support GALANG's work among grassroots LGBTs.

The list of movie choices is outlined below. Voting ends on October 30, 2008. The winning films will be announced on the site as well. The scheduling of the winning films will be at the organizers' discretion, but comments and requests will be taken into account.

Which movie would you like to watch on a GALANG @ Cinekatipunan screening?

Click here to take our Online Survey

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CHOICE OF FILMS

D.E.B.S. (2004 film)

"Recruited by the U.S. government for their unique ability to lie, cheat and fight, Amy, Max, Janet and Dominique join an underground academy of secret agents known only as D.E.B.S. These crime fighting hotties set out to save the world and keep their lipstick perfectly applied while doing so. Now the girls must combine their skills for their most important mission- to capture vexing vixen Lucy Diamond, the deadliest criminal the world has ever known. When D.E.B.S. star player, Amy, falls for Lucy, chaos erupts and the D.E.B.S. loyalty is put to the test."

Winner of Berlin International Film Festival Reader Jury of the "Siegessäule" and Nominated for Black Movie Award in the Black Movie Awards.

Director: Angela Robinson
Writer (WGA): Angela Robinson
Release Date: 25 March 2005 (USA) more
Genre: Action | Comedy | Romance
Runtime: 91 min

Saving Face

"Saving Face starts like you might expect a Chinese-American lesbian romantic comedy to start: Young surgeon Wilhelmina (Michelle Krusiec, in her first starring role) has kept her sexual orientation secret from the conservative Chinese community of Flushing, NY--but when her mother (Joan Chen, The Last Emperor) becomes pregnant and is kicked out by her own parents, Wil suddenly has to juggle her mother's secrets with her own...which include her sparky new romance with Vivian (Lynn Chen), a ballet dancer and the daughter of Wil's boss. This bundle of intrigue and lust could motivate a wacky farce, but writer/director Alice Wu takes things a step further, delving into the characters' psyches and the complex social rules of their world while still crafting a strong plot and plenty of sly humor. Wu captures excellent performances from her entire cast, particularly Joan Chen, who gives perhaps her most multifaceted performance. A rich, rewarding, and delightful movie."

Director: Alice Wu
Writer (WGA): Alice Wu
Release Date: 9 September 2005 (Turkey)
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance
Runtime: 91 min

Kissing Jessica Stein

Blessed by casual charm and sophisticated wit, Kissing Jessica Stein does for same-sex romance what Annie Hall did for straight neurotics. The influence of Woody Allen is keenly felt on this resourceful New York comedy (expanded from an off-Broadway play), especially when cowriter and costar Jennifer Westfeldt channels Diane Keaton's "la-di-da" nervousness as Jessica Stein, a romantically frustrated heterosexual copyeditor who impulsively answers a personal ad from a bisexual woman. Helen (cowriter Heather Juergensen) is as relaxed about lesbian love as Jessica is anxious, but they click as lovers, and so does the movie's delightful exploration of their budding relationship, which is further complicated by Jessica's yenta-like mother (Tovah Feldshuh) and a former boyfriend (Scott Cohen) who's now Jessica's boss. While acknowledging the serious repercussions of Jessica's bisexual flirtation, Kissing Jessica Stein takes its characters on a smart, compassionate journey of self-discovery that's as truthfully observant as it is gently entertaining. --Jeff Shannon

Director: Charles Herman-Wurmfeld
Writer (WGA): Heather Juergensen & Jennifer Westfeldt (written by)
Release Date: 21 June 2002 (UK)
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance
Runtime: 97 min

The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love

This warm romantic comedy by newcomer Maria Maggenti is a gay coming-of-age story framed by Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass. Randy (Laurel Hillman) is a stoner, lesbian teenager who happens to be failing math and dating a married woman. One day, fellow student Evie (Nicole Parker) drives up to Randy's gas station in a Range Rover and flips her world upside down. Evie is privileged and popular. Randy is poor, impulsive, and according to the other students, a freak. Opposites attract when the two girls kick off their friendship in detention. The flirtation blossoms after Evie introduces tomboyish Randy to the joys of Whitman and opera. Randy returns the favor by acquainting the sheltered Evie with the problems and delights of mature, taboo love. There is a beautiful scene where the two consummate their courtship on Evie's birthday while Mom is out of town. The true test of their relationship occurs during the hilarious climax when angry families and friends chase the troubled girls into hiding. --Margaret Griffis

Director: Maria Maggenti
Writer (WGA): Maria Maggenti
Release Date: 16 June 1995 (USA)
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance
Runtime: 94 min

Tipping the Velvet

"It's Pride and Prejudice with dirty bits." That's how screenwriter Andrew Davies (Bridget Jones' Diary), in an interview contained on this disc, describes his adaptation of Sarah Waters's acclaimed novel of lesbian love, betrayal, and redemption in Victorian England. This three-part BBC production chronicles with relish the story of Nan Astley (Rachael Stirling, the ravishing image of her mother, Diana Rigg), barely 18, and certain that life holds more for her than her oyster girl's existence. "You'll meet someone who'll have your head spinning and your legs turning to jelly," her sister promises. That someone surprisingly turns out to be "gay and bold" Kitty Butler (Keeley Hawes), a music-hall entertainer, with whom Nan falls instantly, and swooningly, in love. Nan follows her to London, where, as a double act, they become the toast of London, until Kitty's "marriage of convenience" breaks up the act and Nan's heart. The outcast Nan, decked out in Victor/Victoria duds, becomes a streetwalker, and then "tart" to the aptly named Diana Leatherby (Anna Chancellor). This affair, too, comes to "a bad end" as a destitute Nan is deposited back on the streets, where she insinuates herself into the lives of Florence (Jodhi May), a social worker, and her socialist brother. Is Nan "too spoiled and stained for love?" Will she risk her blossoming relationship with Florence when Kitty inevitably returns to rekindle their affair? There is enough "backbiting and bitching" to fuel several seasons of The O.C. Nan's couplings, while tastefully done, do carry what Waters, in the co-interview with Davies, calls "a queer erotic charge." They are graphic by Cinemax standards, let alone the BBC. But the sterling writing and performances will captivate even the most sensitive viewers, making this groundbreaking miniseries, to quote one character, "a delightful evening... a rare treat." --Donald Liebenson

Director: Geoffrey Sax
Writer (WGA): Andrew Davies (screenplay), Sarah Waters (novel)
Release Date: 9 October 2002 (UK)
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 177 min

AMNESIA - THE JAMES BRIGHTON ENIGMA

An American is found naked and amnesiac in a vacant parking lot in Montreal in 1998. He says his name is James Brighton, but the only thing he's sure of is that he's gay. What happened to this young American in search of freedom ? That's what Sylvie, a criminology student, tries to find out.

Director: Denis Langlois
Writer (WGA): Bertrand Lachance (writer) & Denis Langlois (writer)
Release Date: 2005
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 90 min

SECOND SKIN

Diego (Javier Bardem) is a doctor who has fallen in love with a married man with a son. Against the advice of his boss and best friend (Cecilia Roth), he continues his affair with Alberto (Jordi Molla). The consequences of this affair profoundly alter not only the two men's lives, but also that of Alberto's wife

Director: Darrell Roodt
Writer (WGA): John Lau (written by)
Release Date: 2000
Genre: Thriller
Runtime: 95 min

A YEAR WITHOUT LOVE

Un Año Sin Amor is a densely layered, eloquent portrayal of Pablo, a lonely young writer and poet in Bueno Aires. He passes his time teaching French and is struggling to come to terms with his HIV-positive status. Desperate for affection, Pablo sets off on a quest for human interaction as he cruises the gay bars of Buenos Aires, places personal ads —"Take me as slave or master"—and haunts porn cinemas looking for that one last chance for "true love". And after each encounter, he religiously documents his search (for one year...). Pablo is perhaps looking in all the wrong places. Or is he? …. Pablo's life is transformed when he falls in with a group of men into leather and bondage. He falls in with a tough S&M crowd (the bondage scenes may be fairly graphic for the uninitiated). While tenderness may be lacking, he at least finds pleasure, proof that he's still alive. Relief from this highly unconventional and unexpected corner helps Pablo embrace a yet new way to deal with his disease. An extremely thoughtful, poignant yet challenging look at one gay man's approach to loneliness and HIV.

Director: Anahí Berneri
Writer (WGA): Anahí Berneri (writer) & Pablo Pérez (writer)
Release Date: 24 March 2005 (Argentina)
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 95 min

Come Undone

Come Undone is a beautifully observed portrait of the experiences of a young French homosexual. Eschewing both stereotypes and preaching, it's a wonderfully naturalistic film, superbly acted, shot with a feel for the seaside town where the action takes place, never melodramatic but often painfully real. If anything it's almost too realistic, as there's little in the way of conventional plot, just scenes from a life. But the absence of conventional dramatic tension counts for less than it might in a world so subtly drawn. 'Presque Rien' might not be the most exciting film ever made; but its simple humanism serves it well compared with the pre-conceived celebratory or bigoted viewpoints that often mar treatments of this theme. Worth a watch.

Director: Sébastien Lifshitz
Writer (WGA): Stéphane Bouquet (writer) & Sébastien Lifshitz (writer)
Release Date: 7 June 2000 (France)
Genre: Drama | Romance
Runtime: 100 min

Click here to vote for your Favorite Film!

Announcement: Exchange Magazine

[Posted on sea-aids, 24 October 2008]

Call for articles for the next issue!

Exchange is a magazine on HIV/AIDS, sexuality and gender in developing countries. It is published quarterly by the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in collaboration with Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination (SAfAIDS) in Zimbabwe.

Exchange is continuously welcoming contributions for its forthcoming issues. The articles should preferably focus on HIV in relation to gender, culture, sexual health, sexuality and/or rights issues. We are especially interested in receiving reflective papers from programme managers and other staff of local and national level NGOs working in the Global South about their successful and promising programmes, strategies or approaches. Please note that we prefer articles that go beyond describing a phenomenon by sharing good and promising practice in programming or advocacy work.

The next issue of Exchange on HIV/AIDS, Sexuality and Gender will focus on innovative initiatives addressing HIV and AIDS information needs of people with disabilities. Please contact the editor for detailed guidelines and suggestions on a given thematic focus before you start writing.

DEADLINE: 20 November 2008

More information can be found on our website

Email: e.wangulu@kit.nl

Announcement: policy advisor for UNDP

[Posted by Edmund Settle on msm-asia on Google Groups, 06 October 2008]

POLICY ADVISOR, SEXUAL MINORITIES, HIV/AIDS

Location: New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Application Deadline: 20-Oct-08
Additional Category: Management
Type of Contract: 200 Series
Post Number: 00038106
Post Level: L-5
Languages Required: English
Starting Date: (date when the selected canditate is expected to start) 01-Dec-2008
Duration of Initial Contract: 1 year
Expected Duration of Assignment: 1 year

Background

Human rights violations and inequitable gender relations continue to fuel the spread of the HIV epidemic. Protecting the rights of people living with HIV and promoting gender equality are essential for reducing vulnerability to HIV and scaling-up national responses. UNDP supports countries in creating an enabling human rights environment to protect the rights of people living with HIV, with particular attention to women and other most at-risk groups. The UNDP HIV/AIDS Practice in the Bureau for Development Policy's strategic outcome 11 focuses on Human Rights, Gender and HIV/AIDS. Under this outcome area, UNDP addresses vulnerability of sexual minorities (sexual minorities is a working phrase encompassing men who have sex with men and various transgender/intersex populations that are disproportionately affected by HIV) as part of its efforts to scale-up human rights and gender equality approaches in national, regional and global AIDS responses. Under the Global Task Team's division of responsibilities, UNDP has been designated as the lead UNAIDS Cosponsor for gender, men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender populations.

Working with the HIV/AIDS Practice in BDP, under the overall guidance of the Practice Director and in collaboration with the Gender Advisor, this Sexual Minorities Advisor will lead global programming on sexual minorities including men who have sex with men and transgender persons.

Practice Approach

HIV/AIDS Practice

UNDP is a founding cosponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The UNAIDS division of labor provides the framework for UNDP's response to the AIDS epidemic. UNDP is responsible for leading the UNAIDS response in addressing the following:

• Development Planning and Mainstreaming - AIDS responses are integrated into poverty reduction strategies, MDG-based national development plans and macro-economic processes.
• Governance of the HIV responses - Strengthened national capacity for inclusive governance and coordination of HIV responses, and increased participation of civil society organizations and people living with HIV in the design, implementation and evaluation of HIV programmes.
• Human Rights and Gender - Policies and programmes implemented through multi-stakeholder approaches to protect the human rights of people affected by AIDS, mitigate gender related vulnerability and address the impact of AIDS on women, girls and other key populations, including men who have sex with men and transgender populations.
• Country Implementation Capacity - Accelerated implementation of AIDS funds and programmes financed through multilateral funding initiatives, including the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Sexual Minorities Advisor will serve as the technical resource person in sexual minorities and HIV/AIDS supporting Country Offices, Regional Offices, as well as leading the UNDP's global HIV/AIDS Practice.

Summary of Functions:

• Policy Development and Advisory Services
• Research and Content Development
• Practice Advocacy
• Management and Coordination

Detailed functions and results in line with UNDP Strategic Plan Results Framework:

1. Policy Development and Advisory Services (40%)

• Lead policy development and advisory services for programme support in the MSM, transgender and HIV/AIDS thematic area;
• Lead the provision of policy advisory and technical support to Country Offices, UN Country Teams and other beneficiaries in the area of MSM, transgender and AIDS;
• Provide technical support to increase the quantity and quality of sexual minority activities at country level by Joint UN Teams on AIDS;
• Provide guidelines and technical support to scale-up integration of MSM and transgender issues;
• Provide policy advice for advancing gender equality and equity through AIDS programming, including addressing men who have sex with men, transgender populations, sex workers and IDU;
• Development and dissemination of enhanced technical guidelines on sexual minority issues in different epidemiological and socio-legal settings, to support country and regional Global Fund applications;
• Provide direct technical support to Global Fund and related sexual minority proposal development processes;
• Contribute collaborative capacity building efforts targeting:
• Men's networks, transgender networks and groups of men and transgenders living with HIV to strengthen their participation in all aspects of the AIDS response at the national level
• Government and Civil Society in addressing gender inequality, gender-based violence, and discrimination against men who have sex with men and transgender populations
• UNDP gender and HIV focal points to strengthen their roles in implementing gender and AIDS programmes and as effective advocates for gender equality in the context of HIV/AIDS

2. Research and Content Development (30%)

• Advocacy and policy development of normative standards and approaches on sexual minorities and HIV;
• Promote the integration of gender sensitive approaches into national development planning;
• Promote and disseminate evidence-informed policies and practices in gender-sensitive HIV/AIDS initiatives;
• Collaborate with gender and HIV focal points in the Regional Service Centres and Country Offices on HIV/AIDS initiatives;
• Provide substantive and technical leadership in promoting gender equality in HIV/AIDS;
• Contribute experience and expertise to the formulation of new policies, documenting practice and cross-practice experience and lessons learned;
• Monitor trends, good practices and case evidence in gender and HIV including support to address the vulnerability of men to HIV, sexual and gender-based violence in order to provide technical leadership in the field;
• Actively participate in the global HIV/AIDS community of practice and in sub-practice activities in the area of gender equality;
• Promote knowledge management to enrich the content base for AIDS response strategies by documenting practice experience, lessons learned, and replicable tools from applied initiatives; and
• Design and promotion of 'know your epidemic' tools linking MSM and transgender issues to gender issues.

3. Practice Advocacy (20%)

• Take the lead in maintaining and developing regional partnerships in MSM, transgenders and AIDS;
• Contribute to strengthening partnerships with other UN agencies in developing global MSM/TG strategy through an internal working group;
• Development and promotion of guidelines / action tool for Resident Coordinators and other UN country staff on why and how to address HIV, MSM and LGBT issues in different country contexts;
• Support the involvement of positive women's, men's, transgender and people living with HIV groups in the formulation and implementation HIV policies and programmes;
• Enhanced partnerships with key civil society networks for advocacy activities, policy input and peer support amongst CSOs;
• Promote global, regional and local partnering and exchange, through HIV/AIDS information and learning;
• Support networking among partners, including the identification of external support providers; and
• Support the communication of UN/UNDP policy positions and practice approaches to external support providers to ensure continuity and coherence in all collaborative efforts.

4. Management and Coordination (10%)

• Work closely with the Bangkok MSM and HIV/AIDS Policy Specialist to develop work plans and monitor and report progress in line with the strategic goals of the HIV/AIDS Practice; and
• Enlist management solutions to troubleshoot programme delivery difficulties and share best practices.

Competencies

Corporate:

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP's values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP; and
  Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional:

• Minimum of 10 years national/international working experience in the HIV/AIDS area including considerable focus on sexual minorities as well as other key populations (sex workers, IDU, etc);
• Proven professional credibility, as well as senior-level working experience in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization, in both developed and developing countries;
• Work experience in a developing country highly desirable;
• Extensive network of international and individual contacts;

Leadership:

• Strong managerial/leadership experience and decision-making skills;
• Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision from the spectrum of development experience;
• Knowledge and expertise in UNDP's programming processes; and
• Proven ability to lead a practice area and drive for results with a strong knowledge of results-based management and budgeting.

Managing Relationships:

• demonstrated well developed people management and organizational skills;
• Strong ability to manage teams; creating an enabling environment, mentoring and developing staff;
• Excellent negotiating and networking skills; and
• Strong resource mobilization and partnering skills.

Managing Complexity:

• Ability to address global development issues;
• Substantive knowledge and understanding of development cooperation with the ability to support the practice architecture of UNDP and inter-disciplinary issues;
• Demonstrated substantive leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives; and
• A sound global network of institutional and individual contacts.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Ability to strongly promote and build knowledge products;
• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP; and
• Provides constructive coaching and feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

• A Master's degree in a development related area – International Relations, Gender, Social Science, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Health, Epidemiology or other related field.
• At least 10 years of overall relevant professional experience as well as a proven professional record in the area of HIV including considerable focus on sexual minorities as well as other key population issues (sex workers, IDU, etc);
• Familiarity with human rights and gender equality approaches;
• Academic research skills including review and synthesis of public health evidence;
• Work experience from a developing country context is a necessity;
• A track record of extensive national/international working experience with increasing managerial responsibilities in the development arena and UNDP's practice areas; and
• Experience in leading/managing knowledge product development and dissemination.
• Fluency and proficiency in English; working knowledge of another UN language desirable.

Click here for important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders).