About Us old 2
Establishment history
Mekdim Ethiopia National Association of PLHIV and AIDS Orphans was established in 1996 by a group of 3 people living with the virus and 9 Aids orphans. In 1997, it has got a license from the Addis Ababa City government to work at the regional level. Then, in August 1999, it has got an NGO license from the Ministry of Justice to operate at the National level. The foundation of Mekdim was based on people that were unified by common experiences faced when encountering HIV/AIDS at a time of high stigma, ignorance and discrimination.
The founders at the beginning used to meet informally in each other’s homes or offices to provide mutual psychological and social support. Cohesion among these individuals was strengthened by the fact that they were either directly infected with HIV or implicitly affected by the epidemic. Consequently, they were able to establish Mekdim (meaning pioneer), which is the first legally registered and presently one of the major PLHIV’s associations in Ethiopia. Currently the association has a total of over 10,000 members (26 % AIDS Orphans & 74% PLHIV). And it has been undertaking various HIV/AIDS Projects/programs in six different areas in the country.
MENA targets HIV Positive persons, Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and Most at Risk Mobile Populations (MARPs). MENA has renewed its license on November 12th, 2009 as an Ethiopian Residents charity according to the charities and societies proclamation No.621/2009 and is legally allowed to continue its contribution to the country’s development strategies with the interventions of various HIV/AIDS prevention, Care and Support services.
Organization, Vision, mission, Goal ,Objective & core value
Vision:
- To see a society that cares and supports PLHIV and AIDS orphans and a generation free of HIV/AIDS.
- Addressing the prevention of HIV/AIDS and the protection of the basic needs and human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, their families and dependents, through holistic care and support, education and advocacy.
Goals:
- Improve the quality of life of persons and communities infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia.
- Play a leading and exemplary role in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Values
- Community–Based, Participatory, PLHIV and AIDS Orphans Centered/focused, Quality and sustainable service delivery, Effectiveness and efficiency, Ethical consideration and Honesty, Integrity, equitability, transparency and accountability
Operational Areas
MENA currently has projects operational in four regional states and one city administration in collaboration with CBOs/CSOs has been undertaking various HIV/AIDS Programs/projects:
Partnership
MENA believes that successful partnership is a two way process that is developed through: open dialogue, agreed roles and responsibilities, shared goals and objectives, monitoring and evaluation, appreciation of strengths, mutual support and embracing interdependency. MENA carries out partnerships with a wide array of development actors. These partnerships ensure greater sustainability, maximized human, financial and material resource utilization, stronger interventions, mutual learning, and synergy. Mekdim has been closely working in partnership with
1. Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Justice Charities and Societies agency,
2. Ministry of Health (MoH),
3. Regional & Federal HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Offices,
4. Concern Ethiopia,
5. Care Ethiopia,
6. Geneva Global,
7. Save the children USA,
8. American Jewish World Service (AJWS),
9. Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA),
10. Land O’LAKES,INC,
11. Pathfinder International,
12. DAI (Development Alternatives, INC.),
13. I-TECH, CU-ICAP ,
14. PSI (Population Service International,
15. PATH International,
16. Tulane University,
17. CAFOD Ethiopia
18. Global Fund
19. Civil Society support Program (CSSP)/ British Council
20. Ethiopian Social Accountability Program Phase II (ESAPII)
21. Positive Action For Children Fund
22. Project Hope
23. AIDS Health Care Foundation (AHF) and more than 50 CBOs and 400 PLHIV Associations operate in different areas of the country
Programmatic Areas
Currently, MENA carries out projects in the following core platform areas of seven major HIV/AIDS programmatic activities: Gender and disability are all cross-cutting themes that are integrated across MENA projects
- Information, Education and Communication (IE/BCC)
- Counseling
- Palliative Care (Clinical and Non- clinical)/Home Based Care
- Medical and Nursing Care
- Social Support
- Legal support
- OVC Support
- MARPs Program
Project Information
Project Name | Project Area of Operation Active Projects | Project Donor |
USAID MULU Key Population Program | Oromia Region : Dukem, Bushoftu, Modjo, Adama, Wolenchety, Wonji, Assela and Dhera; 1 town in Amhara Region : Arerti: Addis Ababa (Kolfe Keranyo and Akaki Kality Sub cities) | USAID through Population Service International (PSI) |
USAID MULU MARPS Activity | Oromia Region : Dukem, Bushoftu, Modjo, Adama, Wolenchety, Wonji, Assela and Dhera; 1 town in Amhara Region : Arerti: Addis Ababa (Kolfe Keranyo and Akaki Kality Sub cities) | USAID through Population Service International (PSI) |
USAID Community HIV Care and Treatment Activity | Oromia Region : Dukem, Bushoftu, Modjo, Adama, Wolenchety, Wonji, Assela and Dhera; 1 town in Amhara Region : Arerti | USAID through Project Hope |
Strengthening Citizens’ Voice and Enhancing the Accountability | Oromia : in 3 WoredaofArsi zone and (Dodota, Hetosa and Lode Hetosa) and 2Woredas of East Shewa zone (Boset and LibenChukala) | World bank through Management Agency |
Treatment care and support with and treatment adherence project | Bahir Dar, Dessie, Shashemene, Jimma and Addis Ababa | Global Fund through NEP+ |
ntegrated HIV Prevention, Care and Support through Livelihood Support, PMTCT, Stigma / Discrimination Reduction Intervention Project | kolfeKeraniyo and Gulele Sub cities of Addis Ababa city administration | CST (CAFOD, SCIAF &Trocaire) |
Economic Empowerment and Social support Initiative Project | AkakiKality and KolfeKeraniyo sub cities of Addis Ababa city administration | Civil Society Support program through ANNOPA |
MENA Community Based ART Clinic | Addis Ababa | AIDS Health Care Foundation |
Hope for Marginalized Women living with HIV Project | Oromia Region (Jimma amd Shashemene towns); Amhara Region (Bahir Dar and Dessie towns) | Positive Action For Children Fund |
Ensuring Quality HIV/AIDS Services by Consolidating and Strengthening Existing HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support Programs | MENA Addis Ababa, Dessie, Bahir Dar, Jimma and Shashemene Branch Office | NEP+ (Global Fund) /Regional Networks |
Economic Empowerment for people infected and Affected by HIV | MENA Addis Ababa Branch Office | Trocaire, CAFOD and SCIAF Ethiopia |
Mullu MARPs Prevention Project | MENA Adama and Addis Ababa Branch Office | PSI International |
Re-engaging Adolescents and children with HIV | Addis Ababa branch | Pediatric AIDS Treatment For Africa (PATA) |
Economic empowerment psychosocial support initiative | Addis Ababa and Bahardar branches | Ethiopian civil society support program (CSSP) through ANOPA and ORDA |
Experience with the fund support of USAID
Mekdim Ethiopia National association has been implementing various project activities within four regions and one city of administration of Ethiopia with USG and Non-USG project fund support. Particularly the association has an excellent reputation in executing USAID funded program. Currently it had implemented the following ongoing and phased out projects through the project fund support of USAID in collaboration with International Non-government Organizations.
1. MULU Key Population Activity
2. MULU MARPS Program
3. Community HIV Care and Treatment Activity
4. “USAID TransACTION: Prevention and Care Services for At Risk Mobile Populations” Project in selected 11 towns on the east Corridor of Oromia National Regional State; USAID /Save the Children USA
5. Strengthening community Response to HIV/ AIDS Project; USAID/PATH International within 41 towns of Amhara, Afar and Benishangul-Gumze Regional National State.
6. USAID Ethiopia Urban Gardens Program; USAID/DAI within five branches(Adama, Shashemene, Jimma , Dessie and Bahir Dar)
7. Targeted HIV prevention Program (THPP); USAID/PSI in Addis Ababa and Jimma Branches
8. Ethiopia/ Prevention, Care & Support for PLHA & OVC; USAID/Geneva in Shashemenie, Arsi Negele and Kuyera towns, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
9. Dairy income generating Activity for PLHIV program (DIGA-PLHIV )program-USAID/Land O’Lakes international in Addis Ababa, Shashemene and Bair Dar Branches.
10. PC3 Ethiopia/ Positive Change : Children, Community and Care (PC3) Program; USAID /Save the Children USA/Care International in Ethiopia in Adama, Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar Branches
Sub granting Experience
Over the past years, MENA has been sub-granting funds from USG and non-USG donors to CBOs and CSOs for the purpose of covering program costs such as OVC support, HIV prevention, Care and support programs. Under USIAID funded programs MENA has been sub granting for 25 CBOs in Positive Change: Children, Community and Care (PC3) program within three project areas namely Adama, Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar, through “USAID TransACTION: Prevention and Care Services for At Risk Mobile Populations” Project in selected 11 towns on the east Corridor of Oromia National Regional State sub granted for 11 HAC (HIV/AIDS Committee) and through the project Strengthen Community Response to HIV/AIDS Program funded by PATH International has sub-granted to a total of 42 CSOs in Amhara National Regional State.
Completed Projects
Project Name | Project Area of Operation Active Projects | Project Donor |
Care and Support project for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS | MENA Addis Ababa Branch Office | Concern Worldwide |
Bridging time OVC Care and support Service Project | MENA Addis Ababa and Adama Branch Office | International Orthodox Christian Charities(IOCC) and Silesians of Don Bosco |
Prevention and Care Services for At Risk Mobile Populations “TransACTION” | MENA Adama Branch Office | Save the Children USA |
Strengthening Community Response to HIV/AIDS(SCRHA) | MENA Bahir Dar and Dessie Branch Office | PATH International |
OVC Support and IncomeGenerating Activities for People Living with HIV/AIDS | MENA Jimma and Addis Ababa Branch Office | American Jewish World Service (AJWS) |
ART for Positive Life | MENA Bahir Dar and Dessie Branch Office | I-TECH |
ART Adherence Support | MENA Jimma Branch Office | CU-ICAP |
Prevention, Care and Support | MENA Shashemene Branch Office | Geneva Global |
Ethiopia Urban Garden Program for HIV/AIDS – Affected Women and Children | MENA Dessie, Adama, Shashemene and Jimma Branch Office | DAI (Development Alternatives, INC.) |
Ethiopia Diary Development Program | MENA Addis Ababa and Shashemene Branch Office | Land O’LAKES,INC |
Support to The Youth Friendly AIDS Resource Center in Jimma | MENA Jimma Branch Office | AIDS Resource Center |
Targeted HIV Prevention Program(THPP) | MENA Jimma and Addis Ababa Branch Office | PSI (Population Service International |
Positive Change: Children, Community and Care (PC3) | MENA Addis Ababa Adama and Addis Ababa Branch Office | Save the Children USA and Care Ethiopia |
Community-Based Care and Support programme for HIV/AIDS infected & affected Young people | Community-Based Care and Support programme for HIV/AIDS infected & affected Young people | Interact Worldwide (EU) |
IGA (A positive Future for Young people from HIV/AIDS affected Households) | MENA Addis Ababa Branch Office | Interact Worldwide (Tid Foundation) |
Community Based Program/Project Monitoring (Community Score Card) | MENA Addis Ababa Branch Office | Interact Worldwide (WB) |
HIV/AIDS prevention and Control through community based care and support | MENA Addis Ababa Branch Office | Pathfinder International –Ethiopia |
Promoting Orphans and Vulnerable children‘s Rights through advocacy and Psychosocial Support | MENA Addis Ababa Branch Office | Save the Children Sweden |
PAF Adherence Project | MENA Addis Ababa Branch Office | WHO |
Safe Livelihoods for youth in AIDS-Orphaned families | MENA Addis Ababa Branch Office | CAP AIDS |
Neglected Tropical Disease Education and Treatment (Deworming) | MENA Addis Ababa Branch Office | CEMENT and American Jewish World Service (AJWS) |