HIV and AIDS Advocacy & Media Relations: Handbook and Training Manual for Religious Leaders

Published by Religions for Peace, this 62-page training manual and 51-page handbook were produced to be used together to strengthen the advocacy and media relations skills of religious leaders at both national and community levels. According to the publication, the manual and handbook are designed to expand religious leaders' advocacy efforts on behalf of children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS, with the goal of bringing greater priority to their needs and expanding the response.

The training manual is designed to guide trainers in conducting both Training of Trainers (TOT) workshops as well as workshops for religious leaders on HIV and AIDS advocacy and media relations. The training workshop covers such topics as skills in HIV and AIDS advocacy, training approaches, message development, media relations, coalition building, and community mobilisation. The manual provides detailed training modules, while the handbook offers background information for facilitators, corresponding to each module.

The manual includes the following modules:

• Module 1: Overview of Training
• Module 2: HIV and AIDS
• Module 3: Introduction to Advocacy
• Module 4: Building Advocacy Alliances through Coalitions and Networks
• Module 5: Strategic Communication, Message Development, and Delivery
• Module 6: Working with the Media
• Module 7: Preparation of Action Plans