FACT programmes are categorised into five themes. Each thematic category comprises a portfolio of projects managed by programme managers.

HIV Prevention...

Biomedical research clearly indicates that we are far from finding a medical solution to HIV and AIDS. Despite organisations such as the Gates Foundation investing billions of dollars for the development of a vaccine, these efforts have not yielded anticipated results.  There have been countless care and support interventions such as home-based care that focus on mitigating the impact of the epidemic on individual people, but they cannot turn the tide as they focus on management rather than reducing new infections. Therefore, prevention interventions are the bedrock of reducing new incidences.  

To this end, FACT implements diverse prevention intervention projects that aim to address the complex dimensions of HIV such as multiple concurrent partnerships (MCP), gender inequality and other generally agreed factors that account for the spread of HIV in Zimbabwe and other African countries.  The following projects are ongoing:

1. Behaviour Change - Behaviour change programme is a national programme aimed at reducing the rate of new HIV infections in Zimbabwe. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and National Aids Council (NAC) of Zimbabwe have partnered with FACT to implement the programme in four districts of Manicaland Province. Its goal is to promote the adoption of safer sexual practices among men and women. Interventions in this programme focus on increasing people’s ability to address risk behaviours, gender inequality, stigma and discrimination, and other unsafe practices that expose them to HIV infection.
2. Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT): New Start Centre – This programme is supported by Population Services International (PSI) and it provides voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services.
3. Societies Tackling AIDS through rights (STAR) - This programme is aimed at encouraging the most vulnerable people in communities such as poor women, widows and OVC to openly discuss their problems and raise their voices. The programme involves advocating, empowering and assisting these people to link with relevant service providers to address their needs.
4. Peer education – The programme is targeted at commercial sex workers and other people who are involved in risk activities. The people are educated in prevention of new HIV infections and re-infections. It promotes safe sexual practices and encourages positive behaviour change through life-skills training and sustainable livelihoods projects.
5. Youth – The programme involves conducting activities suited to young people such as education on HIV and AIDS, life skills building and peer education. 
6. Community empowerment – This programme entails conducting community dialogues and discussions to raise awareness on issues that contribute to the spread of HIV in the communities. The issues include gender inequality, subjugation of women in society and polygamy. It also involves raising awareness of people’s rights. These discussions reveal weaknesses that can be included in the programme and developed into points for advocacy on behalf of the community.

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