Participatory site assessment
Participatory site assessment is a way of working that involves trained members of key population groups (such as people living with HIV, men who have sex with men, sex workers and injecting drug users) working in teams alongside researchers and service providers. The aim is to bring about site- and population-specific programme design with members of key populations and start a process of mobilising key population groups for sexually transmitted infection and HIV prevention.
This methodology was designed during the first year of the Frontiers Prevention Project (2002), as part of the evaluation process of the project. The process was implemented in the project sites during the second half of that year.
As an assessment, participatory site assessments yield:
- an estimate of the size of key populations in each site being looked at
- an in-depth profile of key populations, which is important for subsequent programmes to be successful
- an inventory of HIV-related needs, programmes and gaps, which enables subsequent initiatives to be site- and population-specific, around members of the key populations.
As an intervention, participatory site assessments can:
- build awareness of HIV in the area covered
- increase knowledge about risk reduction strategies with local populations
- increase knowledge among members of key populations about existing HIV/sexually transmitted infection prevention initiatives
- build social capital and solidarity among members of key populations
- identify safe and private spaces for members of key populations to meet and work together
- support members of key populations to become more visible, and increase their inclusion and participation.
What participatory site assessments can achieve
In the Frontiers Prevention Project, the participatory site assessment process has already succeeded in reaching members of key populations that conventional mapping processes have been unable to reach, and who are often invisible to people outside those groups. For instance, the participatory site assessment field test in Uppal, India, revealed five times the number of sex workers identified through conventional mapping. Moreover, this process has led to the emergence of key population leaders who are now spearheading advocacy activities at the local and national level in FPP countries, and the establishment of key population community-based organisations that are in the forefront of prevention activities in FPP sites.
