Addis Ababa, Dec. 21(ENA)--The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) made available close to two million US dollar for its HIV/AIDS intervention activities in 2003 in Ethiopia.

UNDP program officer, Barbara Torggler told ENA on Friday that the stated sum was secured from UNDP core fund and other financial resources.

She said the fund would be utilized for various HIV/AIDS activities including local capacity building, care and support and community conversation among others.

According to the program officer, UNDP has earmarked 10 million US dollar for the over all HIV/AIDS activities in the next five years.

UNDP consultant on special initiative on HIV/AIDS on community conversation, Daouda Diouf said on his part that the community conversation is a methodology that would enable the local community identify social dynamics and take collective responsibilities through intensive dialogue.

Community conversation could be done with the active participation of NGOs, community based Organizations as well as community leaders and peasant associations.

UNDP has started the program in Alaba woreda, South Ethiopia Peoples' state and Yabello areas in Oromia region.

Diouf said 64 facilitators had been trained in community conversation methodology and have been actively involving the entire community in the areas towards reversing the pandemic.

Some 15 selected woredas would be incorporated in the next four months.

(END)