STRATEGIC PLAN LAUNCH
SYSTEM STRENGTHENING
RESEARCH
PARTNERSHIP
PHDA collaborates with several organizations to implement its programmes. Collaboration has had a huge impact on our work related to research, programme delivery, and health policies.
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Who We Are

Partners for Health and Development in Africa (PHDA) is a non-profit organization registered in Kenya, working in the health and development fields in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa. PHDA is affiliated with the University of Manitoba, building on its 40-year legacy of successful STI and HIV research, prevention, care and treatment programs in Kenya and Africa.

Our programmes are rooted in the programme science approach, which is defined as the systematic application of theoretical and empirical knowledge to optimise public health programmes’ scale, quality, and impact.

Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with teams based in several counties of Kenya. Most of our research and programme delivery work is in Kenya. Through technical support and partnerships, we also work in 15 other African countries

Latest News & Updates

At A Glance

Vision

Healthy Communities in Africa

Our Mission

Increasing access to disadvantaged communities in Africa through research, programme development and delivery, systems strengthening and partnerships

Our Core Values

Integrity, Teamwork, Professionalism, Equity, and Accountability

Research

In addition to pioneering research in the areas of HIV and STI, the team has also conducted a broad spectrum of health research and generated evidence for the development of programmes and policies.

Some of our recent focus areas are:

  • Relationship between violence, mental health, and risk of HIV infection
  • The biological determinant of HIV acquisition
  • Impact of introduction of new products like HIV self-testing
  • Understanding the HIV prevention landscape in Kenya

Programme Development & Delivery

PHDA and University of Manitoba have implemented programmes for more than two decades. The team was among the first to initiate HIV prevention and treatment programmes with sex workers in Kenya. PHDA currently implements:

  • The Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP) which reaches 35,000 female sex workers and men who have sex with men in Nairobi.
  • Project in partnership with the National Kenya Police to integrate key population curriculum into the pre-service police training curriculum
  • Evaluation of an HIV prevention programme with Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in Nyeri, Kenya
  • Assessment of Global Fund supported AGYW projects in Malawi, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Cameroon
  • Evaluation of a pilot project with young women who sell sex and young men who have sex with men

Partnerships

PHDA collaborates with several organisations to implement its programmes. The partnerships are with

  • Academic and research institutions like the University of Nairobi, Aga Khan University, KEMRI, University of Maryland
  • Government Institutions like the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP), National AIDS Control Council (NACC), county governments
  • Civil society organisations especially community led organisations
  • Funders like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, CDC, OSIEA, Fund for Innovation and Transformation, IAVI

Systems Strengthening

PHDA has prioritised strengthening systems primarily within the government to sustain the gains.

  • Set up a Technical Support Unit, embedded within the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP) and the National AIDS Control Council (NACC), Ministry of Health, Kenya, to scale up

    HIV prevention programs and services in Kenya.

  • Implement a South to South Learning network with 10 African Countries in partnership with Genesis Analytics under the Global Prevention Coalition, UNAIDS

Assessing Outcomes in HIV Prevention and treatment Programmes with Key Populations, in Nairobi, Kenya: enhanced Polling Booth Survey (ePBS)

The study aims to assess the HIV prevention outcomes in programmes with female sex workers (FSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) in Nairobi, Kenya. The study will use polling booth method, a novel data collection tool used to collect behavioral data. It is a group interview method in which individuals provide responses through a ballot box in an unlinked and anonymous way. The sample size for the quantitative survey is 680 FSW and 379 MSM. Sampling procedure will use a two-stage i) random selection of participants ii) HIV rapid tests will be conducted for all consenting participants; urine rapid tests will be conducted for all those who report to be on PrEP to test for tenofovir and blood samples will be collected from all those who are positive to test for HIV recency and viral suppression.

Objectives

  • To estimate the incidence and prevalence of HIV among key populations (female sex workers and men who have sex with men) in Nairobi, Kenya
  • To assess biomedical (condom use, PrEP uptake, 95-95-95 cascade), behavioural (knowledge and risk behaviours) and structural outcomes (experience of violence, stigma and discrimination) of the KP programme in Nairobi, Kenya
  • To assess access and use of comprehensive package of HIV prevention and treatment services among key populations in Nairobi, Kenya
  • To understand the barriers contributing to gaps in access and utilization of services among key populations

Project Initiated 2023

The study was initiated in March 2023.

The study population includes two key population groups: female sex workers and men who have sex with men and will take place in 4 groups where a sample size of each group will be divided by an average of 10-12 respondents per Polling Booth Surveys (PBS) to arrive at the number of PBS to be conducted. The study will be using the list of locations and the population size estimation of mapping conducted in the year 2018 and a will take place in 17 sub-counties in Nairobi county.

Funders

This study is funded by Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation (BMGF)

Doris Kuzma

Member

Doris Kuzma is a seasoned Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 25 years of experience in financial management, administration, and project leadership. She has played a pivotal role in the strategic and financial oversight of major international projects, collaborating with universities, governments, NGOs, and global institutions. As the Director of Administration and Finance at the Institute for Global Public Health, University of Manitoba, Doris has overseen complex multi-location projects across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Her expertise spans financial reporting, strategic planning, contract negotiations, and budget management. In her extensive career, Doris has been instrumental in driving financial strategies, improving administrative systems, and ensuring compliance with international funding agencies. Doris is recognized for her leadership in financial governance, her ability to navigate complex financial landscapes, and her commitment to advancing public health through sound financial management.

Wanjiru Angela Nduati

Member

Wanjiru Angela Nduati is a qualified Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Honours degree from the University of Leicester, UK, and has advanced certifications in trust creation law, company law, and trustee investment law. Wanjiru’s career includes pivotal roles in both legal practice and corporate governance. She is the Co-founder and managing partner of Havelock, Nduati & Company Advocates, she specializes in trusts, estate planning, and property structuring. With over two decades of experience, she held pivotal roles including Head of Governance & Control at Barclays Consumer Banking and Group Company Secretary & Legal Counsel at Barclays Bank of Kenya. Wanjiru is highly regarded for her expertise in legal practice and corporate governance, playing a pivotal role in shaping legal and financial strategies for individuals and institutions.