1. SUPPORT AND RESOURCES CENTRE FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS
Model of support for low-threshold harm reduction services in Riga – cooperation of government, city and NGO
Regional Harm Reduction Conference 2017
HARM REDUCTION IN THE NEW ENVIRONMENT
Session: Local funding and other support in achieving the sustainability of HR programs
4-6 April 2017, Vilnius, Lithuania
 Ruta Kaupe,
Board Chairperson, MBA

2. Latvia 6972 registered HIV+ ; 1786 – AIDS patients (2017.01.01.)
Municipalities
with HPP
Harm reduction, HIV prevention work:
19 HIV Prevention points in 16 municipalities HPP network in Latvia
Data source: Center for disease Prevention and Control
Concentrated HIV epidemic in male IDU’s community (WHO experts, 2011)
PWID: HIV prevalence 25%- 32% , hep C - ~82%; in Riga ~ pers
New cases – 38% heterosex contacts; 37% unknown; 17% IVDU

3. DIA+LOGS: fact-sheet
NGO DIA+LOGS – support centre for those affected by HIV/AIDS working in HIV/AIDS and HR field in Latvia for 15 years
Registered: May 15, 2002
Implemented: ~ 80 projects
Core program:
HR – NS Exchange program
20 emplyees + 3 volunteers
Center, 2 mobile units, outreach
>70% of HR work in LV
Budget: > EUR per year
Riga Municipality + Government + other International & local funders
Environment:
Clients: 27-32% are HIV+; Distributed ~50 syringes per IDU / per year;
30% of employees & 40% of D+L members - drug use experience;
In 2016 ~1000 unique clients, 7000 contacts, in data base registered 5700 pers.

4. HR work model in Riga HIV prevention and psycho-social services for IDUs and their contactpersons in Riga city
Center
NS exchange
Condoms
HIV tests
Social workers counsultations
Psychologist’s counsultations
Life with HIV
Psycho-Social support
Info&education
Events&parties
Mobile
Social worker or psychologist councelling
Info
Outreach
Outreach workers
Volunteers involvement

6. Key sources and funding mechanisms
Riga Municipality Welfare department – local authority
Program implementation expenses
*Specialists salary expenses
*Mobile bus operating costs
*Center maintenance costs
*Utilization
*Administration
Centre for Disease Prevention and Control – government
HIV prevention materials
*HIV, hep B, C, syphilis tests
*Syringes, needles, condoms, alco-pads, cotton
*Materials for wound treatment
*Printed info-materials

7. Financing models of HR services
Project financing - city
Grant –
city
Purchase
of services –
DIA+LOGS HR program
HIV prevention materials
- government

8. HR Budget and results
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Increase
/times/
Municipality funding
for program
75 900
85 %
78 %
71 %
81 600
65 %
61 %
1 x
Government funding
for prevention materials
13 400
15 %
21 700
22 %
31 000
29 %
44 400
35 %
47 800
39 %
3,5 x
Total HR budget
89 300
100 %
97 600
1,5 x
Distributed syringes / returned used syringes / / / / /
2,5 x/
2,1
HIV tests
933
950
1167
1180
1402

10. Key factors for starting municipal financing for HR programs
Few local authority leaders - understanding, well-aware, motivated, inspired from best practices;
NGO – trusted, motivated, with proven work quality and close link with community;
Local strategic policies and HIV situation;
International strategies & support, agreements
Success! - all factors coincide!

11. Key factors for ensuring the sustainable municipal support for HR
Constant advocacy – following policies and changes;
Leadership – continuous growth, don’t let its own accord;
Perfect management & reporting, excellent accounting;
Increase of work results and quality, improvements for effectiveness;
Maintain good partnership & relationships with contact persons and chief officials;
Communicate: your results growth, community, added value
In high crisis situation – rebel!
National cooperation, International support.

12. Survival strategy for NGOs= adaptation
Adopt flexibly changes and requirements
different financing models (projects, grants, purchases);
Be responsive to all requests
safety is priority (city policy);
Be friendly and (rather) personal
Risky, if political power changes;
Be open and honest
Invite for visits, show reality, don’t expand results
Search for additional financers and projects
Don’t put all eggs in one basket, more support for community!

13. Sustainability of Riga HR model
Pros:
Long and good experience of partnership;
3 side cooperation and common responsibility;
Community trust and growing results.
Cons:
No sustainability for service provider (3 y-s contracts);
Changes in political power could decrease HR work;
Weak perspectives for expanding services.

14. Sustainability for HR – Conclusions
People come first! – community needs&involvement!
Cooperation+ reporting+ quality+ trust+ flexibility
Funding for HR services could become sustainable:
If providing HR services is the delegated function to NGO by government (included is state budget) or
If it is dissuaded by law that providing HR services is every municipality responsibility
HR programs should be supplemented by additional supporting projects.

15. YOU ARE WELCOME FOR COOPERATION dialogs@diacentrs. lv. Ms
YOU ARE WELCOME FOR COOPERATION   Ms. Ruta Kaupe – Board Chair (ph ); Dzirnavu street 135, Riga, Latvia, LV home page:

16. DIA+LOGS life

17. Campaigning