Problem Analysis:

• 60% of Iran’s population is under 25. Iran is the second youngest nation in the world. High-risk behaviors are more likely among the young.
• The total incidence of HIV/AIDS is increasing and sexual transition slowly replacing drug related transition.
• The official figures gross underestimations and the true figure is greater. At the same time the majority of the population still denies AIDS as a problem.
• Through public discussion AIDS is becoming less sensitive subject but still remain a taboo.
• HIV/AIDS victims ostracize from society and professional life.
• Access to treatment and counseling is not adequate and testing is prohibitively expensive and not widely advertised.
• The majority of AIDS cases are drug abuser and behavioral change is difficult to affect.
• Drug addiction and prostitution remain deeply taboo in the Islamic Republic and so access to affected groups is limited.
• Geographical proximity to high risk countries greatly contributes to drug and sex related diseases.
• Urban migration contributes to overcrowding and unemployment increasing the incidence of high-risk behaviors.
• Centers such as prisons and sex houses are epicenters of disease and defy effective control.
• In the religious atmosphere of the Islamic Republic sexual behavior remains underground and un-discussed which hinders education and sexual health awareness?
• Fear of the consequences of being positive limits much of the population to do VCT.
• Female condoms are unavailable in Iran.

Comparative Advantage:

• Good experiences on educational programs and also in training the trainers.
  Making appropriate relationship with people of the society.
• The association dose not have governmental organizations’ limitations.
• Having relationship with people who are involved in governmental organizations.
• The association is well known among governmental and non-governmental organizations .
• Working as a member of IPPF has made FPA as a professional organization working on SRHR according to international standards.
• Considering the youth and also deprived groups in policy making, planning, implementing and also monitoring the projects.
• Being focused just on the SRHR issues.
• FPA is among the initiator organizations in some issues of SRHR.
• Volunteer body of the association assists the FPA to be able to operate in different parts of the country.
• The association cares on the international announcements and making use of them.
• Having innovation in different fields such as educational methods, planning and implementing the projects .

Goal:

Reduction in the incidence of HIV/AIDS and protection of the rights of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Strategic Direction:

• Empowering young people as the most vulnerable group to work sustain ably on HIV/AIDS through research, education, awareness raising and advocacy.

Objective 1:To reduce social, cultural, economic, legal and political barriers that increase young people’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS by the involvement and contribution of young people.

Activities:

• Conduct 2 studies and KABP surveys
• Study 2 tour to share experience on working with influential people
• Sensitization of 20 influential people to allocate more resources for combating HIV/AIDS through meetings/seminars
• Working with 10 schools’/educational organizations’ authorities and parents
• Working with media to provide accurate and update youth friendly information
• To encourage and facilitate the involvement of 40 young people in policy-making, implementation and evaluation of the projects on AIDS in related organizations
• Networking and partnership with 5 organizations on HIV/ AIDS .

Outcomes:

• Different barriers which increase young people’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS are reduced Indicators
• Narrative/qualitative reports of 2 surveys, recognition of two political, cultural, economical and legal barriers
• Number of media programs/articles related to HIV/AIDS of young people after 2 study tour
• Number of statements in support of combating HIV/AIDS of youth by influential people in local and national forums- meetings .
• Number of meetings with parents and the school authorities
• Number of young people involved in policy-making, implementation and evaluation of the projects on AIDS in related organizations
• Number of program documents developed as a result of joint programming efforts between FPA and other relevant organizations
• The amount of funds allocated to FPA projects on HIV/AIDS of young people by the donors
• Number of the barriers reduced on combating HIV/AIDS of young people

Objective 2:To increase access of 100’000 young people to interventions for the prevention of HIV/AIDS/STIs through integrated, gender-sensitive and age sensitive SRH programs.

Activities:

• Youth friendly IEC activities to provide HIV/AIDS information and messages
• To provide youth friendly counseling services
• Training of young trainers and peer educators 
• Mobilizing the school libraries with appropriate age sensitive books and educational materials 
• To provide proper information especially in Persian on HIV/AIDs in the FPA’s website.
• Networking and partnership with 5 organizations working on HIV/AIDS related interventions 
• To hold life style 2 workshop related to high risk behaviors

Outcomes and Indicators: