Community Capacity Project

The Community Capacity Project: Supporting HIV Self-Testing

Funded by the CDC Foundation, the Enhancing Community Capacity to Support HIV Self-Testing (Community Capacity Project) was a time-limited initiative led by Community Education Group (CEG) to strengthen the capacity of community-serving organizations (CSOs) to expand access to HIV self-testing, particularly in 52 priority jurisdictions with high HIV burden. The project ran from June 2022 through May 2023 and focused on building the operational support CSOs needed to implement and sustain self-testing programs effectively. 

While the CCP is now complete, the project’s resources and lessons continue to inform CEG’s broader capacity-building, workforce development, technical assistance, and partnership-driven implementation work in rural and under-resourced communities.

    Project at a Glance 

    • 52 priority jurisdictions supported 
    • 4,400 HIV-serving CSOs included in a national digital directory 
    • 12,888 HIV self-tests supported through negotiated reduced pricing 
    • 15 technical assistance meetings delivered 
    • 39 webinars and on-demand learning resources developed 
    • 6,032 participants reached through training, learning opportunities, and capacity-building supports 

    The Project Delivered 

    1) A national CSO directory to support coordination and referrals 
    CCP developed a digital directory of 4,400 HIV-serving CSOs to strengthen collaboration, improve referral pathways, and make it easier for partners and stakeholders to identify organizations providing HIV-related services and supports.  

    2) Reduced-cost access to HIV self-tests 
    CEG negotiated reduced pricing and supported access to 12,888 HIV self-tests, helping CSOs expand confidential, low-barrier testing options for people who faced stigma, access barriers, or concerns about privacy. 

    3) Technical assistance and implementation support 
    CCP provided tailored support to participating organizations, including structured TA engagements and group learning sessions. Support included practical guidance on planning, distribution workflows, confidentiality protocols, communications, and follow-up considerations after testing. 

    4) A technical assistance website and resource hub 
    A dedicated TA website was developed to house webinars, multilingual documents, and toolkits that partners could use immediately. Topics included HIV basics, implementation supports, PrEP promotion, and promising practices for community outreach and engagement. 

    Outcomes and Impact 

    Across participating jurisdictions, CCP strengthened the ability of CSOs to: 

    • Expand access to HIV testing through private, convenient self-testing options 
    • Improve community trust and reduce barriers linked to stigma 
    • Build stronger distribution practices through partnerships and clearer protocols 
    • Increase visibility and engagement through digital outreach, including social media 

    Lessons Learned 

    CCP reinforced several operational and implementation realities that matter for capacity building in community settings: 

    • Partnerships and planning strongly influenced distribution reach and effectiveness. 
    • Privacy and confidentiality protocols were essential for uptake and trust. 
    • Staffing capacity directly affected distribution pace and follow-up support. 
    • Cultural and language considerations shaped how self-testing was understood and accepted. 
    • Supply handling requirements, including temperature sensitivity, needed proactive planning. 
    • Ongoing technical assistance supported consistency, problem-solving, and sustained implementation. 

     

    Funding Acknowledgments 

    Enhancing Community Capacity to Support HIV Self-Testing (Fund Number: 41128) was supported by a CDC Foundation award through the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6NU38OT000288-04-02 CFDA Number(s) 93.421.

    Project Partners

     

    CCP worked with community-serving organizations across the 52 priority jurisdictions. Participating partners represented diverse organizational types and community contexts, bringing local expertise that strengthened implementation and reach.