This document summarizes the work of Hope Worldwide Kenya's Men as Partners (MAP) program. The MAP program aims to promote gender equality and reduce gender-based violence and HIV transmission by educating men. It holds workshops to change attitudes around contemporary gender roles and health issues. It also forms community action teams to advocate for these issues locally. The program has led to increased couple HIV testing, male involvement in reproductive health services, and men reporting improved relationships and reduced violence towards partners.

1. MEN AS PARTNERS:
NATIONAL CONFERNCE OF PEER
EDUCATORS, HIV AND AIDS.
presenter: JOB ODOYANCE AKUNO
HOPE WORLDWIDE KENYA

2. Exploring and
Enhancing the
Role of Men and
Boys in the
Prevention of
Gender-Based
Violence and HIV
infection
Men as Partners Program

3. HOPE WORLDWIDE AND MAP IN KENYA
 In Kibera slums, a victim of domestic violence, afraid
that she will get beaten again, acquiesces her self to the
drunken insistence of her husband and endures
intercourse
 At a health centre, a man accompanies his partner to the
antenatal clinic to know more about preventing Mother-
to- child transmission of HIV but is turned away at the
door by the nursing staff who says that the clinic is for
women only.
 Mutua confides that he cannot allow the wife to deliver
in hospital because she could be tested for HIV, which
may expose his status.
 A young man is in a dating relationship and forces the

4. MEN AS PARTNERS
REACHING WOMEN TO IMPROVE
COMMUNICATION TO END GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE AND PROMOTE SEXUAL AND
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

5. The Male only MAP workshop

6. MAP INITIATIVE
 Spurred by the recognition that men’s attitudes and behaviors
impede or promote SRH.
 Hope worldwide Kenya implement a “men as partner program”
adopted from Engender Health.
 It creates opportunities for men from all walks of life to examine
contemporary gender and cultural norms.
 MAP challenges those norms and practices that compromise health and well-
being, and celebrates promoting healthy, thriving communities.
 Increase men’s involvement in HIV/AIDS related prevention, care
and support activities.
 Encourage men to take a stand against gender based violence
and to promote gender equality in their personal lives and in
their communities.
 Improve the availability, quality and use of sexual and
reproductive health services for men

7. MAP APPROACHES:
 Workshops aimed at changing knowledge, attitude and
behavior. (same sex, mixed sex, youth and adults)
 Mobilizing men and women to take action in their
communities through community Action Teams (CATs)
 Collaborating closely with other organizations/ institutions to
build their capacity to implement equivalent of MAP
programs.
 Advocacy for increased male involvement in sexual and
reproductive health programs.

8. MAP PRINCIPLES
 it recognizes that contemporary gender roles confer on men
the ability to influence and or determine the reproductive
health choices made by women
 Utilization of health care services and adoption of new behavior.
 placing them at risk for violence and abuses
 limiting their ability to negotiate for safe sex .
 It then places the burden of care and support for PLWAS on their
shoulders.

9. 2nd
principle
 It recognizes that contemporary gender roles
compromise men's health by encouraging men to
equate a range of risky behaviors to manliness;
 The use of violence, alcohol and substance abuse.
 The pursuit of multiple sexual partners,
 the domination of women-with being manly,
 Encouraging men to view health seeking as a sign of
weakness.
 hence vulnerable to HIV infection and chances of spreading
and affecting their families.

10. At a CAT forum, the community
campaigns on GBV and HIV and
AIDS

11. Awakening
Awareness
Acknowledgement
Ability
Action
Amplification Amplification
NGO/CBO
CATs

12. Program impact
 “ I used to rape my wife but now am discussing issues of sex and our
sex life has changed. ….”
 “ I used to be elbowed every night due to the heat of passion, was
afraid to ask for sex, but these days I am called into the bedroom if I
delay”
 I had reached a point of saying NO to sex because it was too painful
and all the bad experiences. I enjoy it NOW, thanks to MAP.
 before MAP ‘ If women only gave birth to girls, I would advice and
even divorce them” but now I understand that a child is a child and
men are responsible.
 “We, the young men need more empowerment, to be real men and not
perpetrators”

13. •During the community outreach, men and women share roles that are perceived either
feminine or masculine to demonstrate that men and women can rise above gender
stereotyping.

14. What difference?
 Increased Couple VCT by participants
 Formation of CATs for increased reach
 One day set aside for VCT with high intake
 Endorsement and enforcement of positive
norms
 More male involvement and suppor for/in
CS,FP,PMTCT and ARVs

15. Acknowledgements
 Rita Ndegwa: Engender Health Kenya and
program staff.
 Nicasius Kamani: Operations Director, Hwwk.
 Peris Wakesho: AYPO: Hwwk Nairobi
 Rayola, Nisswa and Sallim: HWWK Makueni.
 Paschal Mabele: MAP Program Assistant Hwwk
 Community groups in Mukuru, Kibera, Rongai,
Kiambu and Makueni.

16. For further information contact:
JOB ODOYANCE AKUNO,
YOUTH PROGRAM MANAGER
job.akuno@hwwafrica.org
akunojob@yahoo.com
Cell: 0733 93 47 97 /0723 85 05 99
Office: 254-020-300 2177 /300 2176