Consultation on strategic information and HIV prevention among most-at-risk adolescents (MARA), 2–4 September 2009, Geneva
Concept
The "Consultation on Strategic Information and HIV Prevention among Most-at-Risk Adolescents” (MARA) aimed to facilitate the exchange of information across regions on country-level data collection regarding MARA; identify ways to use strategic information to improve HIV prevention among MARA; and suggest ways to build support for MARA programming among decision makers. It was held on 2–4 September 2009, at UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The consultation was organized by UNICEF Headquarters and the Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Task Team on HIV and Young People.
The consultation focused on MARA, defined as those aged 10–19 as a subset of most-at-risk young people, or those aged 10–24. As such, participants addressed the particular challenges in collecting data and working with 10–19 year-olds, although discussions did not exclude strategic information regarding 20–24 year-olds. Age-group delineations are according to UN-agreed definitions.
Research toolkit
UNICEF and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) have been working with national partners to strengthen capacity to collect data on MARA in programme countries. Valuable experience has been gained and a number of tools have been developed. This Toolkit brings these resources together under one umbrella. It is a work in progress that continues to be updated and revised. The toolkit can be downloaded here
Final report
The report of the meeting can be downloaded here
Agenda
Click on the "Download" link under the Presentation column for PowerPoint (if available).
Day 1: wednesday, 2 september 2009
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Time |
Sessions |
Moderator(s) |
Presentation |
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09:00 – 09:45 |
Welcome and introduction Overview of objectives and expected outcomes
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Moderator : Jo Sauvarin, UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office
Presenters : Luiz Loures, UNAIDS, and Diane Widdus, UNICEF |
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09:45 – 10:15 |
Creating a Common Understanding of MARA/MARYP in the Context of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic Ø Introductory presentation and discussion in plenary: § Why focus on MARA? § Risk and vulnerability
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Presenter : Bruce Dick, WHO |
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10:15 – 10:45 |
The UNICEF CEE/CIS Regional Programme on MARA Overview presentation and discussion in plenary: § Programming context for HIV prevention among MARA § Collaboration with LSHTM § Objectives and expected outcomes |
Presenter : Nina Ferencic, UNICEF CEE/CIS Regional Office |
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11:00 – 12:30
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Global Frameworks and Guidance for Data Collection on MARA/MARYP Ø Presentations and discussion in plenary: § Introduction to the global database and current indicators § Challenges and lessons § Update on existing guidance § Size estimation for MARA/MARYP – good practice and country examples § Measuring coverage |
Presenters : Igor Toskin, Monitoring & Evaluation Division, UNAIDS;
Priscilla Akwara, UNICEF NYHQ;
Dave Burrows, AIDS Projects Management Group
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14:00 – 15:30 |
Getting the Evidence on MARA: Data Collection in South Eastern Europe and Ukraine, and an overview of the findings Ø Summary presentation by LSHTM and discussion in plenary: § A review of methodologies, tools and indicators § Quantitative and qualitative data collection § Building capacity of national research partners § A summary of the findings § Innovations, limitations, challenges and lessons |
Moderator : Ketan Chitnis, UNICEF Asia Pacific Shared Services Centre
Presenters : Joanna Busza and Megan Douthwaite, LSHTM
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15:45 – 16:45 |
Group discussions: Country experiences in data collection § What is being collected § Data collection tools § Challenges and lessons |
Moderator : Samir Anouti, UNICEF MENA Regional Office
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See annex of Final Report for group discussion outcomes
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Day 2: thursday, 3 september 2009
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Time |
Sessions |
Moderator(s) |
Presentation |
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9:15 – 11:00 |
Panel presentations on country experiences and discussion in plenary
Ukraine: Issues and Challenges in Getting the Data and Creating an Enabling Environment for Policy and Programming on MARA (9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.)
Brazil: Advocacy and Action for MARA from a Human Rights Perspective (10 a.m. –10:30 a.m.)
Philippines: Addressing issues of child rights and informed consent in data collection (10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.) |
Presenters : Olga Balakireva, Ukrainian Institute of Social Research; and Olena Sakovych UNICEF Ukraine
Nara Vieira, Brazil National AIDS Programme, and Daniela Ligiero, UNICEF Brazil
Gudrun Nadoll, UNICEF Philippines |
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11:15 – 12:45 |
Group discussions:
Building capacity and political support for data collection and programming with/for MARA and MARYP § Sharing country experiences § Highlighting challenges and effective responses § Engaging MARA/MARYP § Identifying additional support needs |
Moderator : Vivian Lopez, UNICEF Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office
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See annex of Final Report for group discussion outcomes
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15:00 –16:15 |
Summarizing the issues , challenges and lessons learned in CEE/CIS to date and discussing the implications for evidence-based programming § Data collection § Policy and legal barriers § Advocacy § Ethical concerns § Referral systems § Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks |
Moderator : Nina Ferencic, UNICEF CEE/CIS Regional Office
Presenters : Paul Nary and Anya Teltschik, UNICEF CEE/CIS
Valentin Simionov, Romanian Harm Reduction Network and Eugenia Badiu, UNICEF Romania |
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16:30 – 17:30 |
Country examples of addressing ethical issues and building linkages/integrating MARA into protection and other sectors |
Presenters : Bettina Schunter, UNICEF Pakistan
Jelena Zajeganovic-Jakovljevic, UNICEF Serbia
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Day 3: friday, 4 september 2009
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Time |
Sessions |
Moderator(s) |
Presentation |
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09:15 – 11:00 |
Group discussions:
Group One Strengthening the evidence base on MARA Next steps – strategic action on: § Strengthening capacity for data collection on MARA § Using existing data and current indicators § Tools and resources § Key partnerships
Group Two Strengthening political commitment Next steps – strategic action on: § Advocacy § Upstream policy work § Policy guidance, tools and documents § Key partnerships
Group Three Strengthening integration and linkages into broader systems Next steps – strategic action on: § Building linkages between HIV prevention and broader health, social and protection sectors § Integration of MARA into existing service provision § Key partnerships |
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See annex of Final Report for group discussion outcomes
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11:30 – 12:30 |
Groups report back – Next steps |
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See annex of Final Report for group discussion outcomes
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13:30 – 14:30 |
Summation and next steps |
Presenters : IATT/YP |
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