Supporting and expanding community-based HIV/AIDS prevention and care responses : a report on Save the Children (US) Malawi COPE Project

In 1995, Save the Children/US-Malawi introduced a small pilot project called COPE-Community-based Options for Protection and Empowerment, to provide direct services to prevent, and mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on children, families, and communities in one district. Over the past six years, the program has evolved, and expanded to four districts, covering nine percent of the national population. The goal of COPE is to mobilize sustainable community action, utilizing existing indigenous social infrastructures, and a three tier structure - District AIDS Coordinating Committees (DACCs), Community AIDS Committees (CACs), and Village AIDS Committees (VACs). The program is multi-sectoral, and involves partnerships with government, business communities, local leaders, other nongovernmental organizations, and community-based organizations, and religious organizations. Program success, and challenges are included.