Supported by the Voluntary Overseas Organisation (VSO) under the Regional AIDS Initiative of Southern Africa (RAISA) Programme, the Gender, HIV and AIDS Unit of PELUM Regional Desk (RD) facilitated the workshops.

The workshops were held in close collaboration with PELUM Zambia. The objectives of the workshops were to develop a common understanding and strategy of PELUM Association’s HIV and AIDS and gender mainstreaming approach  as well as to re-define clear and realistic objectives for mainstreaming HIV and AIDS into all PELUM Association’s country desks and member organizations.  In addition, the workshops were aimed at making the HIV and AIDS and gender mainstreaming in PELUM Association functional to implement, monitor and evaluate the delivery of the activities and the achievement of the Association’s objectives.

The workshops were held in Zumwanda, Lundazi in Eastern Province and Sinazongwe in Southern Province.  In Lundazi, 21 farmer leaders of farmer groups that Mthila Kubili’s Sustainable Agricultural Program (MKSAP) is working with were the participants of the workshop.  The meeting was held at the MKSAP Training Center located at the center of the farming community. In Sinazongwe, the workshop was held at Kaluli Development Foundation (KDF) training centre.   The Community Agriculture Workers (CAWs) and KDF staff were the participants of the workshop which took place at the KDF training center.  Mthila Kubili and KDF are PELUM Zambia members.

The workshops gave the participants and the member organisations an opportunity to come up with gender mainstreaming action plans.  At MKSAP, most participants were interested in how HIV and AIDS can be mainstreamed along with gender at all levels of the organization, family and community. Care, treatment and support to the infected and affected people and the community were crucial issues for them. More sharing of experiences happened that created a friendly atmosphere between women and men in the workshop. The participants also identified gaps that facilitated the development of the action plan.  A one year plan which will guide both MKSAP and PELUM in the effective and efficient implementation of the gender, HIV and AIDS program was developed.

On the other hand, KDF decided to prioritise the internal mainstreaming process this year where awareness on gender and HIV and AIDS within the organization will be obligatory, and then gender policy, HIV and AIDS workplace policy will be developed with full participation from Board and Staff.  External mainstreaming will kick off after the internal mainstreaming is done, which is estimated to be in full implementation by next year.  The CAWs also concluded that they will share the knowledge from the workshop with their farmer members in the communities while the KDF is undergoing internal mainstreaming.

The three day workshops held in these two locations also gave an opportunity for PELUM Zambia and its two members to regnite their relationship.