ECOM looking for national partners of the 4th Regional Consultation

Hello dear colleagues!

We would like to inform you that on December 15-16, ECOM is planning to hold the 4th Regional Consultation on HIV among MSM and Trans* People in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The goal of this year's consultation remains to increase the visibility of the social, economic and legal problems that the community faces in accessing HIV services in the EECA region.

The consultation will focus on effective HIV prevention and treatment, protection of rights, and community mobilization. The transformation of programs and strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic will also play an important role.

Four key discussions will focus on:

- Health, sex and wellbeing of the LGBT community during the COVID-19 pandemic

- Trans* people in 2021 – Bringing order to the chaos and getting stronger

- An intersectional approach to overcoming legal barriers to accessing HIV services

- Effective communication as an advocacy tool during the COVID-19 pandemic

The consultation will be held in a hybrid format: it is envisaged that some of the participants, 10 people each, will be present in person in specially equipped centers (national hubs) in their countries (Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine), while some will be connected online. At the same time, the Consultation will include 2 online sessions per day, and 2 offline sessions for national discussions in national hubs, thereby focusing on both the regional and national interests of the communities. 

The main language of the consultation is Russian, with interpretation into English.

In connection with this, ECOM is announcing a competition for national Consultation partners among ECOM members in 4 countries:

- Armenia

- Kyrgyzstan

- Russia

- Ukraine

Terms of reference for national partners 

Assistance to the ECOM Secretariat in organizing the 4th Regional Consultation, including:

- technical support for the operation of the national hub in your country on December 15-16, 2021: selection of a national technical company that will be able to provide video reception and broadcasting during the Consultation (2 days for 4 hours).  Example of equipment needed: 1 or 2 video cameras (for a general shot and close-up), at least 2 microphones for speakers, a screen for broadcasting. To control the equipment - an operator (1-2) to control cameras, sound and general information for broadcasting to the regional hub in Tallinn (the platform Zoom will be used for broadcasting). Logistic partners (assistant, company, etc.) can be recruited for support in this.

- organizing the activities of the national hub in your country: renting a venue, printing a brand wall, providing the necessary furniture for participants and speakers, as well as a high-quality Internet connection.

- organizing the participation of national activists (10 people) in the work of the national hub: coordinating the list of participants with the ECOM Secretariat, payment for their travel (from other cities), accommodation, meals (lunch, dinner, 2 coffee breaks) during the Regional Consultation.

To participate in the competition, we ask that you fill out the budget form (attached), which includes (but is not limited to) example budget items, and send it to us by the end of November 7, 2021 at: contact@ecom.ngo with the subject "National partners of the Regional Consultation_your country"

A service contract for the provision of services will be concluded with national partners.

If you have any additional questions, you can contact the following staff of the Secretariat:

- on organizing the work of national hubs - Elena German, elena@ecom.ngo 

- for technical support for  national hubs - Alexander Poluyan, alexandr@ecom.ngo 

- on programmatic issues of the Consultation - Yuri Yoursky, yuri@ecom.ngo 

Good luck!

ECOM Secretariat