About HARC

The History of HIV/AIDS Research and Welfare Centre

Origins: 1998-2001

HARC's story begins in 1998 when Dr. Carol Jenkins launched Bangladesh's first National Behavioral Surveillance Survey (NBSS). This groundbreaking initiative introduced an innovative approach: engaging community members as researchers in their own right. Dr. Jenkins pioneered this inclusive methodology by recruiting and training individuals from vulnerable communities to conduct interviews, believing that peer-to-peer research would yield more authentic and meaningful results.

Building Research Capacity

The success of this approach became immediately apparent. The initial team of peer researchers demonstrated exceptional interviewing skills and deep understanding of community dynamics. Their outstanding performance led to expanded roles in subsequent surveys, with community members taking on increasing responsibilities:

2000: The second Behavioral Surveillance Survey saw an expansion of the peer researcher program, with new members joining and some taking on supervisory roles
2001: By the third round, community researchers had become integral to the surveillance process, leading key components of the fieldwork

Formation of HARC

The momentum built during these surveillance projects catalyzed something remarkable. In 2001, the peer researchers, having witnessed their collective potential, began organizing regular meetings to discuss forming their own organization. Their vision was to create an entity that would:

Continue conducting vital public health research
Implement community-led interventions
Address stigma and discrimination
Advance public health initiatives

This led to the establishment of the HIV/AIDS Research and Welfare Centre (HARC), officially registered with the Ministry of Social Welfare in 2001.