Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa  Download (pdf 834 KB)

Impact Assessment 2002-2009

Is it possible to document the impact of a regional initiative that covers the whole of sub-Saharan Africa? It is certainly a challenge, but this publication shows that the ten-year existence of the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa (EHAIA) has changed the scene.

Thousands of church leaders have been trained on HIV and related issues, with the result that clergy in many places in Africa is well informed and stigma in the churches has receded. The close collaboration with people living with HIV and organizations like INERELA+ has helped pastors and congregations to gain a deeper understanding of HIV, of evidence-based prevention and life-long treatment. By getting to know people--sometimes even clergy--living with HIV, many pastors have changed their hitherto stigmatizing attitude and are now convinced that people living with HIV have got the same rights as HIV-negative people and should not be treated differently in or outside of church life.

EHAIA is a learning initiative which has not shied away from dealing with sensitive issues like genderbased violence and sexuality. From merely one workshop on this topic in 2003, it managed to run 24 workshops in 2008. The methodology of using contextual Bible studies has made it possible to even talk about taboo subjects like rape in a church context, as the Tamar Campaign has demonstrated in so many places in Africa.

Innovative work on the issue of masculinity with pastors and correctional services in Lesotho has had impact beyond the church context. Prison wardens as well as prisoners in Lesotho are now trained on masculinity issues; this is felt to have a lasting impact on people's lives and to be more effective in changing behavior than merely a Sunday sermon in a prison.

Ten theological institutions in Central Africa alone have integrated HIV into their curriculum. Publications developed by EHAIA have been distributed worldwide and are deeply appreciated by the readership. These are but a few examples of the impact that the work of the regional coordinators and theological consultants of EHAIA has had.

This publication also shows that the trainings benefitted not only the WCC membership but also a number of other churches and institutions, yet it also highlights that in order to evaluate impact, good recording and follow-up of activities are necessary. Documenting impact is a journey EHAIA has successfully embarked on. We admire and appreciate the progress made and wish EHAIA all the best and God's blessings for the journey ahead.