The establishment of KVP Forum Zanzibar was initiated in 2021 after deriving lessons learnt from the establishment of the KVP Forum in Mainland Tanzania. The Forum was later registered in August 2023 as a society organization. The new Forum’s main mandate is to complement governmental efforts in the development of a comprehensive guideline for KPs and to support key populations in organizing and advocating for access to health services, inclusion in programming as well as implementation and monitoring and evaluation of KVP interventions. KVPF’s work is meant to complement government efforts to end HIV as a public threat by the end of 2030.The forum ensures meaningful engagement of KVPs in policy spaces and programs designed to improve their health and social well-being through advocacy, capacity building, coordination and dissemination of HIV and other health-related information. Its current scope of work includes enhancing collaboration, sharing data driven information, analysis and discussions around HIV and AIDS and coordinating advocacy issues. It also works to improve stakeholder engagement, monitoring the effectiveness of KP HIV service delivery as well as capacity strengthening and demand creation. The forum foresees the KP-TNC as a body that will represent and amplify regional interests, sharing of experiences and best practices as well as drive the learning and advocacy agenda of KP consortia in the region. More information about the Zanzibar KVPF is on Instagram here and their X account here.
