LINKAGES Angola: Summary of Achievements

LINKAGES Angola: Summary of Achievements

The Linkages across the Continuum of HIV Services for Key Populations Affected by HIV (LINKAGES) project was implemented in Angola in partnership with civil society organizations (CSOs), government stakeholders, and key population (KP) individuals, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

The innovation of LINKAGES Angola was in developing tailored programming for each KP—female sex workers (FSWs), men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender (trans) people—in recognition of the differentiated needs and preferences of each group in the country. KP members were involved in the creation and implementation of their own solutions to barriers to getting tested for HIV and initiating and adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART).

The project’s contributions to national guidance on legal rights pertaining to gender and sexual orientation have also paved the way for increased access to HIV services for KPs. CSO and government partners, too, have benefitted from project endeavors, particularly the development of mutually beneficial, collaborative relationships that will far outlast LINKAGES and have an enduring positive impact on KPs.

This brief summarizes the significant achievements of the LINKAGES project in Angola.