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Training Improves Quality of IPC Programs in Zimbabwe

By Kumbira Chatora

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Ten members of PSI/Zimbabwe’s Technical Services team attended a four-day workshop in July organized by AIDSMark’s Research and IPC Program Manager Jessica Greene. The objective of the training was to build local capacity to plan and implement interpersonal communication (IPC) activities in line with larger program objectives. Since the training “the PSI programs make sense and I can now see where and how my efforts fit in the whole initiative,” said new IPC Training Coordinator Patience Kunaka.

PSI/Zimbabwe (PSI/Z) follows a robust interpersonal communications (IPC) portfolio designed to support behavior change communications (BCC) at the mass media level. In line with this, PSI/Z implements structured IPC initiatives to promote safer sexual practices, such as improved parent-child communication to promote delaying onset of sexual activity, and address behavior issues, such as perceived condom efficacy and the ability to negotiate condom use between partners.

The training focused on equipping PSI/Z’s team with the necessary skills and required in designing and conducting IPC activities. Yasmin Madan, deputy country director at PSI, noted that the training “was exactly what we needed as we are trying to build local capacity to harness ideas from all levels of the program and to ensure that all employees understand their role in relation to the larger program goals”.

Since the training, almost all the participants have cited how they are now able to apply the theoretical concepts learned during the training in the course of their daily program planning and problem solving needs.

Since the training, PSI/Z is in the process of updating its workplans for all IPC initiatives. The objective is to encourage participants to use their learning to revisit and redefine their programs and maintain a dynamic approach in the face of the changing epidemic.