A regional knowledge forum is convened by the World Bank, the National AIDS Control Organization of India, and the Avahan program supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It will provide a forum to share the lessons learned from the 26 winners of the South Asia Regional Development Marketplace (SARDM) 2008 "Tackling stigma and discrimination related to HIV". It will also be an opportunity for all participants to learn from the Avahan project about how to use data for planning and programming, and achieve results.

At this regional forum, community based organizations, networks and NGOs in the countries of the South Asia region (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan), will come together to share their lessons learned of what works in reducing stigma and other barriers to effective HIV prevention by communities. Participants have also been invited from Brazil and South Africa, to exchange experiences at the Forum with partners in other regions. This meeting of invited civil society organizations, academia, high level government officials and other development partners will highlight lessons and promising approaches to scale up – especially how to tackle stigma and discrimination related to HIV and AIDS as one of the major barriers to effective programs. During the workshop, special attention will also be given to working with media on stigma reduction. WBI is supporting a ½ day workshop during the Forum to disseminate its experience in training journalists and to show case the SARDM projects that used innovations to reduce stigma through media. Attached below: Agenda, Participants, Presenters and Moderators, Media and Data sessions.

The Learning Forum includes more than 200 confirmed participants, of which at least half are implementers and civil society representatives. The India Network of People living with HIV will launch their book "The Triumphant Spirit" at the end of the two day Forum.

Participating from the World Bank are: Julian Schweitzer, Acting VP, HD Network, David Wilson, Acting Director GHAP, Julie Mclaughlin, HNP Sector Manager SAR and Phillip Hay, Communications Advisor, HDNOP. The SARDM Country Office focal persons: Hasib Karimzada (Kabul), Jaya Karki (Kathmandu), Shirin Jahangeer (Dhaka), Kumari Navaratne (Colombo), Ayesha Ahmad (Islamabad) and Anne Bossuyt (Delhi) and other SARAIDS team members and TTLs: Kees Kostermans, Iffat Mahmud, Sameh El-Saharty, Sandra Rosenhouse, are also participating in the Forum. The Knowledge Forum core organizing team members are: Arvinder H. Singh, Phoebe M. Folger, Tatyana Ringland (WBI) and Mariam Claeson, assisted by Neera Bhatia and Zareen Thomas. Isabel Rocha Pimenta (WBI) is contributing to the preparation of the media session. Sudip Mozumder and Nandita Roy, India EXT, are helping us in partnering with media for wide dissemination, and Erik Nora SAREXT with the regional press release.

Laura Nyblade and Anne Stangl, International Center for Research on Women is providing technical assistance, drafting and presenting the SARDM report on stigma reduction. The conference report "Tackling stigma and discrimination in South Asia: Lessons Learned from the 2008 Development Marketplace" is based on the M&E and case studies that ICRW has conducted of the innovative projects financed by the SARDM.

The South Asia Regional Learning forum is sponsored by SAR AIDS with UBW and BNPP TF, WBI with Japan PHRD funds, and by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Indian Avahan project.