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This website aims to make high quality manuals, field books and training courses easily available to groups who need them (free of cost to those in the South but with a contribution of $25 requested from those in the North); to encourage colleagues to be open to new knowledge and skills, to plan and stick to self-guided learning; to introduce topics which may be new to some people an to link users to resources, useful organisations, websites and materials; and to provide a place for users working in different countries in the South to stay informed. The resources are available online and cover a variety of topics in a clear, easy to understand format. It provides a number of guidelines including guidelines for writing reports [http://www.networklearning.org/writing-reports.html] and a simple guide to the web [http://www.networklearning.org/web.html]

To mark World AIDS Day 2005, HAI Africa has prepared a simple, concise fact sheet on the pharmaceutical industry's role in access to HIV/AIDS treatment. The document, written in a question-and-answer format, addresses the impact of generic competition, compulsory licences and what the industry can do to increase access. It asks questions such as 'Are pharmaceutical companies involved in initiatives to increase access to ARVs?' and 'Do patents on medicines have an impact on access to ARVs?'

The mass media have the potential to provide a platform for discussion, communication and education on HIV and AIDS, giving a voice to people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), challenging stigma and discrimination, lobbying policy makers and building partnerships and capacity through sharing and transferring skills and expertise. However, mass media can also disseminate misleading messages, while HIV/AIDS communication competes with other topics for broadcasting time and audiences. This report presents three case studies of effective and creative use of the media in South Africa: Soul City and Soul Buddyz adopt an 'edutainment' approach, aiming both to educate and entertain; the Community Health Media Trust produces a series of programmes addressing issues concerning people with HIV/AIDS; Takalani makes television and radio programmes, to encourage small children to develop self-esteem, offer positive models and destigmatise PLWHA. Detailing the lessons learned from these experiences, the report looks at how target audiences are chosen, how partnerships are formed, how topics and ideas are developed and what ethical issues arise

This article assesses the impact of community-based reproductive health services (CBRHS) and programmes on contraceptive use in Ethiopia. The 1993 National Population Policy provided a strong political backing to community-based contraceptive programmes, which grew in number and outreach to the community. The article shows that 'women living in areas covered by the CBRHS programme were three times more likely to use contraception than the average Ethiopian woman'. The study concludes that scaling up the programme nationwide would have the effect of doubling the national contraceptive prevalence rate

Older people are often among those who suffer most the devastating impact of emergencies. They have also the potential to make vital contributions, such as looking after orphans and vulnerable children. This issue suggests ways and tools aimed at: addressing the invisibility of older people; improving their access to relief; finding out who needs most help; and using older people's knowledge and skills to support relief efforts and help the peace-building process in post-conflict settings. Includes a list of key resources around ageing and emergencies

A growing number of children around the world are currently orphaned or otherwise growing up without parents, due to conflicts, natural disasters and HIV and AIDS. This issue of Early Childhood Matters takes a look at the current state of international thinking on the issue of children without parental care. It highlights the need for international guidelines that guarantee the appropriateness of the environment in which children grow up