Aspirations and Sustainability of Youth HIV Civil Society Organizations in the Philippines

Abstract

The global HIV response aims to end AIDS by 2030. However, cases continue to rise in countries like the Philippines. Various stakeholders have acknowledged the work of community and key population-led organizations, including youth groups, in effectively delivering programs and services to key populations. From January to December 2022, young people account for 65% of people living with HIV in the Philippines. With global and local partners highlighting youth participation as an asset, this study explores the roles, aspirations, and sustainability strategies of youth civil society organizations (CSOs) in the HIV response. Based on the thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with eleven HIV youth CSOs from the Philippines, this study finds that youth-led advocacies carry out a variety of roles that are specific to the needs of their community and do not only deliver adolescent health services but also participate in advocacy and lobbying. They vie for sustainability and take on a diverse set of strategies in terms of internal capacity, external capacity, and community empowerment. Strategies are diverse but have been categorized into accreditation, continuous partnerships, revenue diversification, program expansion, and social contracting. These CSOs also recognize internal and external factors that serve as enablers or barriers to their sustainability. Partners, especially the government, can take proactive steps to continually support the programs of youth HIV CSOs through social contracting, mapping, and continuous dialogues._x000D_ <br>_x000D_ <br>Keywords: HIV, youth, civil society, Philippines, sustainability