The project follows an approach of building communities capacities to develop effective community-based responses to the socio-economic causes and consequences of the epidemic. It works to increase awareness and educate at-risk populations on preventive measures and to increase community capacities to care for infected and affected individuals and families.

The project works closely with local NGOs, Community-based Organizations (CBOs) and local Volunteers in reaching out to individuals and families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. It seeks to develop effective community participation and ownership of response efforts, provide assistance to local groups, increase counseling and peer support assistance programmes for people living with HIV/AIDS. The project supports the efforts of local groups through training, promoting information exchange and coordination.

The project also runs an AIDS Support Volunteer (ASV) programme in selected villages in remote border areas and in other high priority areas. These volunteers not only help to care for AIDS patients in their own homes and communities, reducing demands on the formal health service and helping overcome taboos and misconceptions among the community about the disease, but also provide counselling and compassion support to affected families.

This project operates under two broad strategic frameworks: as part of the HDI and also within the framework of the UN Joint Plan of Action on HIV/AIDS.