From Training to Transformative Leadership

July 22, 2010—“My mission has become making sure that the next woman who is diagnosed has a smoother transition into the HIV world than I did,” said Shannon Behning (pictured right), Executive Director of the Women’s Lighthouse Project and CEDPA alumna during a morning panel discussion at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna.

Shannon is part of a delegation brought to the conference by CEDPA through the Ford Foundation funded Advancing Women’s Leadership and Advocacy for AIDS Action Initiative. She was joined by her fellow CEDPA alumni Jemimah Atieno (pictured below) of the Kenya Teachers Service Commission and Kaythi Win (pictured below) of Population Services International-Myanmar who also shared their stories and discussed how they applied their learning to work with teachers, ex-offenders, sex workers and others.

“Opportunities like CEDPA and other leadership workshops for women are essential for growth,” said Shannon. “There must be a place to be with other leaders who are women, in a safe, supportive and educational environment.”

The women were part of the From Training to Transformative Leadership panel where they presented lessons learned from the initiative’s cutting edge leadership program that has empowered women globally to advocate for a women-centered approach to HIV and AIDS.

Though the "feminization of AIDS" is part of most government and donor lexicons, this awareness has yet to be translated into significant numbers of women in decision-making roles related to AIDS policy, funding and programs.

Jemimah Atieno spoke of her work on the AIDS unit of the Kenyan Teachers Service Coalition and Kaythi Win spoke about her work with sex workers.

“I wish to advocate for increased donor funding focused on programs to build women’s capacity, especially women living with HIV, for practical reasons,” said Jemimah. “This is because any woman educated or with some economic empowerment, is sure to also educate, protect and provide for others.”

CEDPA’s Director of Capacity Building, Sue Richiedei, joined the women on the panel to give an overview of the program and the International Center for Research for Women’s HIV/ AIDS and Development Advisor, Reshma Trasi, addressed the positive outcomes of the initiative.

The initiative equipped and empowered a cadre of women from around the world with the knowledge and skills to strengthen and lead the global response to AIDS. CEDPA led a three-tiered training program that included a master trainer workshop; global programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America; and a year-long coaching program.

The initiative brought together leading global agencies including CEDPA and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW), and National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC).

Learn more about the initiative.

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