UNFPA has embarked on a number of joint initiatives with faith-based organizations to address the spread of HIV and to fight the stigma often directed towards people living with the virus. The Fund's engagement, dialogue and partnership with faith-based organizations have yielded results that have been mutually beneficial to UNFPA and religious institutions' and, most important, have improved the lives of the people they serve. The aim of this training manual is to encourage policy makers, programmers in the field and development practitioners to recognize the complex social, cultural and economic factors in HIV prevention and to partner with faith-based organizations to address them. The ultimate goal: to advance the ICPD agenda and reverse the spread of HIV.
