Back to Programs

PEPFAR Faith and Community Initiative

Botswana, Eswatini, Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Africa, Caribbean

PEPFAR Faith and Community Initiative (FCI), launched in 2018 with 100 million USD, leverages the trusted community presence of faith-based organizations to find undiagnosed men, youth, and children with HIV and prevent sexual violence against children. FBOs deliver an estimated 20-70% of healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa. In Zambia, faith-engaged community posts achieved a 12-fold increase in HIV case-finding with 95% linkage to care. In Kenya, faith leader-led HIV self-testing doubled case ascertainment.

Behavior Goal

Find and link to care undiagnosed HIV-positive individuals (especially men and youth), prevent sexual violence against children, and maintain treatment continuity

Target Audiences

Youth/Adolescents

Implementers & Partners

  • Catholic Relief Services
  • Catholic Medical Mission Board
  • HOPE Worldwide
  • Christian Health Associations
  • Local FBOs

Donors & Sponsors

  • PEPFAR/U.S. Government

Key Takeaways

  • 1Faith-based organizations often the largest non-governmental HIV service providers in Africa
  • 2One-on-one counseling by faith leaders achieves 5x higher HIV testing yield
  • 3Messages of Hope approach rapidly increases PrEP uptake
  • 4Community-clinic integration with faith engagement doubles new treatment initiations

Sources

Related Programs