Background

In Kenya, as of 2018, 1.6m people were living with HIV with a prevalence rate of 4.7% amongst adults (15–49 years). While progress has been made to stem the pandemic with significant success, various social, legal and policy challenges continue to impede an effective response to HIV. The Stigma Index, 2014, shows that HIV-related stigma and discrimination in Kenya is at 45% with marked regional variations, showing a need for stigma/discrimination-specific interventions.

The legislative framework for the prevention, management and control of HIV and AIDS in Kenya is anchored within the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act (HAPCA), 2006, which is currently due for review by the National AIDS Control Council (NACC). The Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework (KASF) 2014/2015-2018/2019 has a goal of aims at contributing to achieving Vision 2030 through universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment and care; a new Strategic Framework is currently under development to follow this.

Project objectives

UNDP has an important role in supporting health outcomes by supporting countries to address the social, cultural and economic determinant of HIV and Health in partnership with UN entities and other organisations. UNDP’s work in HIV and health is guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021, and the HHD Strategy Note 2016-2021 and the Country Programme Document 2018-2022. The regional programme “Africa, HIV and Health” coordinates the implementation of the UNAIDS Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF) envelope for UNDP agencies in Africa.

The project seeks to address the legal and human rights gaps that exist in Kenya’s HIV response premised on the fact that supportive legal environments and appropriate laws play a crucial role in slowing the spread of HIV. Conversely, punitive laws undermine access to effective HIV services. It aims to achieve four key outcomes:

i) Institutional capacity strengthening
ii) Law reform 
iii) Law enforcement
iv) Access to justice and redress

The expected outputs of the project focus around; Strengthened capacities of judicial officers to address HIV through quality judgments; Strengthened capacities of law enforcement officers on HIV, Human rights and the law; Strengthened capacities of legal professionals, health workers and media to address HIV through provision of quality services; Strengthened  capacities of infected and affected communities to influence on their rights as well as to influence law and policies and ; documentation of best practices on HIV, Human Rights and the law.