PACE’s Community Driven Response (CDR) project run from 2011 to 2015 aimed at reducing the rate of HIV infections among Ugandans by promoting HIV prevention approaches. CDR employed MoH’s National HIV Prevention Strategy that combines service provision alongside addressing the socio-cultural behavioral issues facilitating the spread of HIV.

CDR had specific focus on vulnerable groups of people: female sex workers and their clients, uniform service personnel, pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS, prison inmates, long distance truck drivers, among others. CDR had notable success in the 17 districts in which it has been implemented, including Iganga, Jinja, Masaka, Lwengo, Oyam, Alebtong, Busia and Kabarole.

Partners in implementation: The program also supported 27 Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and 6 sub-grantee CSOs to manage and implement HIV programs in the 17 districts. This support focused on both technical (financial management and M&E) and organizational management; monitoring expenditure for stipulated activities under the memoranda of understanding (MoU); supporting overall implementation and reporting.

The CBOs and CSOs facilitated the training of VHTs to carry out community mobilization, education of people about prevention of HIV/AIDS, testing, treatment and link them with various health facilities that offer these services, and were followed up through the existing referral system. Condom distribution in hot spots and demand generation for condoms was also done through VHTs.