The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV & AIDS, PANCAP, hosted a three–day workshop (November 22 -24) in Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, on Knowledge Synthesis and Best Practices for over forty (40) leaders of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and National AIDS Programme (NAP) Managers in the Caribbean. The Honourable Terrence Deyalsingh, as host Minister of Health, delivered the keynote address in which he stressed the critical importance of leadership and committed his support as a champion for the regional and global agenda for ending AIDS by the year 2030. He underscored his support for the WHO and UNAIDS initiatives – ‘Treat All’ (‘Test and Start’) and the ‘90-90-90’ targets aimed for the year 2020.

The workshop engaged participants in applying knowledge management tools to HIV programme implementation with particular regard to the ‘Treat All’ and the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals.

The pivotal role of CSOs and NAP Managers play in the HIV response was affirmed. Stronger and more effective collaboration between these two stakeholders was fostered through a series of engaging knowledge management (KM) activities that allowed participants to share their success stories and best practices with each other.

CSOs and NAP Managers were equipped with the tools necessary for sustaining HIV responses through improving efficiency, effectiveness and implementation of key strategies. In addition, the workshop encouraged greater integration of CSOs into the national response thereby leveraging their comparative advantage of reaching key population groups.

The ‘Knowledge Café’, which allowed participants to engage in group discussions about topics affecting the implementation of HIV programmes, resonated with participants who viewed it as innovative. It provided an ideal environment for participants to learn about the successful initiatives implemented by CSOs and National AIDS programmes. Participants who required support to achieve greater success were able to generate a road map by discussing their challenges with those who have already crossed those hurdles.

The face-to-face discussion was ideal for solving specific challenges by applying existing knowledge and experience while supporting collective learning, linkages, networking and stimulating new perspectives and new lines of inquiry.

The three outcomes of the workshop were: a) renewal of commitment for the integration of CSOs into the national responses b) recognition of the comparative advantage of CSOs in reaching key population groups and c) improvement of relationships and enhanced collaboration between leaders of CSOs and NAP Managers. It is expected that these three areas of success will result in more effective approaches in advocating for the sustainability of HIV programmes beyond donor funding.

PANCAP is a Caribbean regional partnership of governments, regional civil society organisations, regional institutions and organisations, bilateral and multilateral agencies and contributing donor partners which was established on 14 February 2001. PANCAP provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, coordinates the response through the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS to maximise efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilises resources and build capacity of partners.

What is Knowledge Management?

Knowledge management (KM) is an umbrella term encompassing the many unique but related facets of creating, organizing, sharing, and using information and experiences. While there is no universally accepted definition of KM, most available definitions have common elements. KM is often described as a “process” rather than one activity or event, and many definitions discuss KM as the practice of delivering the right content to the right people at the right time. Other definitions discuss the specific activities included within KM. For example, one definition of knowledge management is “… the systematic process by which knowledge needed for an organization to succeed is created, captured, shared and leveraged” (Clemmons Rumizen, 2002, p.9).

For more information on PANCAP visit www.pancap.org

For more information on Knowledge Management visit www.k4health.org

Timothy Austin

Communications Specialist

PANCAP Coordinating Unit | Knowledge for Health (K4Health)

CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen

Tel: (592) 222-0001-75, Extension 3409| Email: [email protected]

Cell: 699-9094

Fax: (592) 222-0203 | www.pancap.org