The partnership centers around two major prevention projects. The first is an abstinence and behavior change program for use in Catholic-sponsored educational institutions across Kenya. The second is a radio-based social marketing campaign, also encouraging abstinence and behavior change, that is  expected to reach half a million Kenyan youth in 2006.

Challenges

In Kenya, the rates of HIV/AIDS infection continue to rise and are particularly high among young adults. In addition, rates of early marriages, sexual abuse, teenage pregnancies, drug abuse, and sexually transmitted infections are high among both students and out-of-school youth. And, while the country has recognized gender issues as an important part in HIV/AIDS educational and awareness programs, there is still a lack of comprehensive and well designed, evaluated, and documented HIV prevention efforts focused on youth.

Capacity Building Targets

The overall goal of the partnership is to increase the capacity of the Kenya Episcopal Conference-Catholic Secretariat to design, implement, and evaluate two HIV/AIDS prevention projects for youth that will be delivered through Catholic-sponsored educational institutions and the radio. Though the secretariat is based in Nairobi, the partnership will have a broad geographical reach, targeting Nairobi, Ngong, Kiambu, Limuru, Thika, Machakos, and Murang'a. 

In addition, the partnership will strengthen the capacity of the Kenya Episcopal Conference-Catholic Secretariat to develop and implement monitoring and evaluation activities. These activities will assess both the implementation process as well as initial project outcomes.