Meaningful research processes contribute to building a stronger evidence base for programming and advocacy. To that end, PV partnered with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in 2017 to deliver a Learning From Innovation (LFI) project to learn from the implementation of LILO in Uganda, drawing secondary data from neighbouring Tanzania.

The work of the KP REACH programme’s citizen journalist initiative, ‘Key Correspondents’ (KCs), demonstrates Positive Vibes’ (PV) Looking In, Looking Out (LILO) methodology and capacity development approaches in terms of catalysing change at the personal level and the transformative process that follows, in this case, through storytelling—of the KC’s own stories and those of others—as well as providing useful skills and tools to be successful KCs.

Positive Vibes (PV) works with LGBT+ and sex worker organisations and coalitions to influence programming and engage in effective advocacy at multiple levels. Mechanisms such as REAct: Rights, Evidence, Action—a community-based human rights monitoring tool—support this goal by helping improve data collection to build a strong evidence base of human rights violations, which in turn, better inform local, national and regional programming interventions and advocacy initiatives.

KP REACH has been working with trans advocacy organisation, Gender Dynamix (GDX), to strengthen the Southern Africa Trans Forum (SATF) towards the programme goal of the four regional KP networks being better able to work strategically and efficiently together and with others to contribute to the effective development, monitoring and reporting of HIV prevention, testing and treatment services, programmes and policies for KPs at regional and national levels by 2018.

PV’s organisational strategy works toward strengthening systems for health and influencing programmes and advocacy initiatives through its particular approach to its work, its strategic partnerships and by using the LILO curricula. Meaningful research processes contribute to building a stronger evidence base for programming and advocacy for better health systems. To that end, in 2017, the Namibian team undertook a mixed methods study, ‘Together Tomorrow’, funded by the Human Sciences Research Council exploring the HIV prevention needs of male-male couples in South Africa and Namibia.

Out-Right Namibia, with LifeLine/ChildLine and PV, celebrated the rich tapestry of Namibia’s LGBT+ communities through a week-long advocacy campaign, #weareone in July 2017.