Despite Namibia’s national HIV prevalence rate of 19.6% of the adult population in 2005, only about 15% of students were reached by programmes specifically designed to educate youth and adolescents about the epidemic and prevent infection. Furthermore, at the 47 target schools, only 11% of learners on average were participating in 2 standard MOE HIV/AIDS programmes (“My Future is My Choice and Window for Hope”), with schools in Ohangwena region reporting less than 7% participation rates, including three schools without any HIV/AIDS awareness activities in 2007.

At present, the HIV/AIDS Management Unit (HAMU) operates as a stand-alone unit but its work is insufficiently integrated across all MOE institutions, directorates and activities especially at the regional and school levels. There is therefore a need for strengthening and improving the management and mainstreaming of HAMU activities to regional education offices, down to the schools level. In support of the goal of increased HIV/AIDS awareness amongst youth, adolescents, and adult learners within Namibia, the MCA Namibia Programme will provide technical assistance to HAMU focused on (i) developing and implementing core programmes, and (ii) expanding HIV/AIDS planning and support to teachers into all education activities. Annex 2 explains environmental and social assessment implications for the implementation of this Project.