(for Country Office use for the consultant)

Country Assessment: Current responses by religious leaders and faith-based organisations to HIV/AIDS prevention and care among children and young people
(15-17 December 2003, Kathmandu, Nepal)

Terms of Reference
1. Background and Rationale There is growing recognition that religious leaders and faith-based organisations represent a potentially powerful, but currently under-recognised and underutilised, resource in the current HIV/AIDS response in South Asia. Religious organisations are becoming increasingly sensitised and committed to expanding their roles and contributions to the response. Religious leaders can especially be instrumental in eradicating the stigma and ending discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS. They are particularly poised to reducing the vulnerability of and impact on children and young people because of their influence on public policy, financial resources and importantly, social, moral and spiritual values. Against this background, UNICEF ROSA will organise the first Interfaith Religious Leaders Consultation on Children, Young People, and HIV/AIDS in South Asia from 15-17 December 2003 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The consultation will serve as a follow-up activity to the High Level Conference on HIV/AIDS held from 3-4 February 2003 in Nepal, as well as to the 2nd International Muslim Leaders Consultation on HIV/AIDS held from 19 - 23 May 2003 in Malaysia, which discussed the role and use of faith and explored the application of Islamic principles and teaching in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support. The main objective of this consultation is to provide a regional platform for various religious leaders in this region to discuss issues related HIV/AIDS; share their experiences; and identify their role, responsibility and future actions in the response - particularly in relation to prevention among children and young people and mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS on those infected and affected. The overarching aim is to accelerate the religious leaders response to provide crucial leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS in South Asia. Currently, however, little is documented on how religious leaders and faith-based groups (FBOs) in South Asia have responded to HIV/AIDS prevention and care. As such, UNICEF ROSA, in partnership with UNICEF Country Offices, is

commissioning country-specific assessments to document religious leaders and FBOs responses to HIV/AIDS. 2. Purpose of Assessment The assessment would provide valuable information for HIV/AIDS programming, advocacy and policy making efforts at country, regional and global levels. At the regional level, the assessment will be used to inform the preparatory process of the regional consultation as well as to guide the development of follow up action plans. ROSA will compile the various country assessments into a regional synthesis report, which will include major recommendations for the way forward. All country assessments and the regional synthesis report will be presented at the regional consultation. 3. Expected Outcome of the Country Assessment The assessment should provide an analytical overview of current religious leaders and FBOs responses to HIV/AIDS prevention and care among children and young people in the country. Further, the report should identify current strengths and constraints as well as future opportunities to enhance religious leaders responses to HIV/AIDS. While the country assessment should focus on examining current activities by religious leaders and FBOs working directly on HIV/AIDS prevention and care among children and young people, the report should also briefly review projects and initiatives by religious leaders and FBOs in the areas of: child protection (e.g. child labour, violence/sexual abuse and exploitation/trafficking, drug and substance abuse, street children/orphans) Youth development (e.g. education, vocational training, child club), and Reproductive health The latter three areas are suggested to assist in identifying opportunities to integrate HIV/AIDS prevention and care into existing efforts. 4. Suggested structure of the assessment The assessment should follow the following outline:

a) Introduction A brief profile of major religious groups and FBOs active in the country. Outline of current activities by religious groups/leaders and FBOs on HIV/AIDS prevention and care among children and young people. Outline of current activities by religious groups/leaders and FBOs on child protection, youth development or reproductive health in the country.

b) Analysis of main strengths and constraints of the identified responses. c) Recommendations on how to strengthen religious leaders and FBOs responses to HIV/AIDS at country and at regional level. d) Annexes with specific project outlines, providing following information Name and contact details of project Objectives of project Key activities Participants (age groups, sex) Geographical focus Level of work (i.e. community/district/sub-national/national level) Organizational capacity Partnerships with other organizations Main areas of strengths and constraints Future opportunities to enhance or integrate HIV/AIDS 5. Suggested methodology Desk research, literature review. Interviews with religious leaders and representatives of FBOs. Focus group discussions with young people, if possible members of FBOs.

6. Length and format of report The report should not be longer than 15 pages, excluding annexes. A hard copy of the report as well as an electronic file (Word document) of the final report has to be produced by the consultant. 7. Duration

3 - 4 weeks; Deadline for completion and submission to the country office is 26 September 2003. 7. Supervision and reporting The consultant will work under the supervision of the UNICEF country office. The final report and electronic file should be send to UNICEF ROSA, Ms Akiko Hirano at ahirano@unicef.org, by 30 September 2003.