08.C0892: Technical expertise and support OVC State (2 LES)

The State Department will establish and recruit staff for two new LES positions that will be established to

help manage new USAID-funded community-based programs for OVC and Care. These new Program

Assistants will work together under the direct supervision of the OVC Coordinator to link community-based

activities with the other HIV/AIIDS services including VCT, PMTCT, treatment and palliative care. Funds

will cover salaries and benefits as well as training and technical assistance to increase the capacity of the

new LES.

1.Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Program Assistant (FSN 10): Supervised by the OVC/NGO

Coordinator this person will have professional training and experience designing and implementing OVC

activities in Botswana at the community level and will serve as an Activity Manager for USAID-funded OVC

centrally-funded and locally-funded awards. This person also will play a key role in implementing the

monitoring system for collecting and reporting on PEPFAR OVC targets and achievements.

2.Community-based Care Program Assistant (FSN 10): Supervised by the OVC/NGO Coordinator and

guided by the Care and Treatment Section Chief, this person will work closely with the OVC Program

Assistant to strengthen community-based palliative care services, linkages with OVC community-based

NGOs and other HIV/AIDS activities. S/He will have professional training and experience designing and

implementing community-based care activities in Botswana and will serve as an Activity Manager for USAID

-funded Palliative Care centrally-funded and locally-funded awards. This person also will play a key role in

implementing the monitoring system for collecting and reporting on PEPFAR palliative care targets and

achievements.

08.C0907

This activity aims to increase the number of males tested especially young men throughout the country. The

Zebras for Life campaign aims to promote messages that inspire hope, life and behavior change. It is

conducted throughout the country to reach even the most rural places using the national football team. The

players will continue to make appearances at different sporting, district activities and schools throughout the

country. The Zebras for Life--Test for Life campaign will continue to work closely with different stakeholders

to encourage men aged 15- 35 years to test for HIV.

The project is youth driven and involves stakeholders such as the private sector, Botswana Football

Association and DMSACs. Edutainment and sporting events is used to mobilize people in the communities

to participate in the campaign. Further consultation meetings to discuss strategies and develop campaign

schedules are conducted with the service providers such as Tebelopele, BOCAIP, BDF, Men Sector,

Zebras supporter clubs, Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC), Youth Health Organization (YOHO) and

Musicians Against AIDS so that they all can align their plans with the Zebras for Life, Test for Life initiative.

In addition to the goal of increasing numbers of males tested, and behavior change, the campaign links

with other programs such as PMTCT, palliative care, prevention and OVC to leverage resources and ensure

that the people are mobilized to test and access services provided. It therefore promotes increased access

to and use of services, including HIV counseling and testing, male participation in PMTCT, IPT and ART.

The campaign is one of the strategies to ensure that USG and Botswana government reach the Goal of the

Botswana NSF of 95% of the population to know their HIV status by 2009. The campaign in 2007 has been

able to make significant strides in sensitizing and mobilizing men and Zebras football players to participate

in the campaign. In partnership with the Tebelopele VCT centers, the campaign has over a period of six

months, tested over 6,000 people of which 59% were males through 60 outreaches in 33 different villages

and towns across Botswana. In addition, 15 Zebras (national soccer team players) were trained in

HIV/AIDS, awareness in counseling and testing, and communication skills, in order for them to adequately

mobilize young men to test.Due to the huge demand generated by such a male engaging manner for

mobilizing men (through a popular sport and national icons), there have been limitations to the total number

of clients tested at activities due to shortages in counseling staff. Counselor shortage and burnout has also

resulted in the number of activities being limited. Botswana's vast landscape and diverse culture has proven

a challenge as well. Botswana is sparsely populated meaning outreach to hard to reach areas is long

distances over rough terrains. Increasing the number of counselors at each Zebras activity is one of the

lessons learned already being implemented through Tebelopele. Part of the funding request includes

allowance for more staff for counseling and testing as well as mobilization and capacity building. The

introduction of post test clubs is also a lesson learned during FY 2007 to address the growing need for

support and education for those who test positive or negative as well as for creating linkages to prevention,

care, treatment and other support services in their communities.

2008 plans

The campaign will extend its coverage to very remote villages and plan to increase the number of people

tested from approximately 6,000 in 2007 to 41250 in 2008. These numbers are reported by Tebelopele who

performs the HIV testing. As the campaign expands, mobilization and training will expand to include the

under 23 and the under 20 players to increase the number of Zebra players participating in the campaign. It

is estimated that some 50 players will be trained in HIV/AIDS prevention, the importance of HIV testing and

in communication skills. Debriefing sessions will also be held for the players to provide them with on-going

support to enable them to cope with the task of addressing big audiences and officiating at promotional

events. An estimated 2 debriefing sessions per quarter, for 10 players will be conducted in 2008. PEPFAR

funds will support post-test clubs for young players, especially those who test HIV positive, to help them to

cope and access care, treatment and support services; and also for those who test HIV negative, to provide

them with motivation and skills to remain HIV negative and become advocates for testing and behavior

change. PEPFAR will also fund capacity building of community sports clubs to provide on going support

through prevention education and linkages to care and treatment, and other support programs in their

community. IEC packages will be developed as part of capacity building for community sports clubs and the

Zebras Supporters Club to function as post test clubs. The Zebras Supporters Club has 21 branches

throughout the country and the Zebras for Life—Test for Life will work closely with its executive committee

and branches.

In order to further strengthen testing campaigns, increase awareness of the importance and understanding

of testing, and increase the number of people tested, a National Testing Month will be held end of the year.

This will be linked to the World AIDS Day events. Participation of the country's leadership such as the

President, who is the chair of the National AIDS Council, will be requested as well as other relevant

stakeholders.This activity will be linked to activity PO215, Society of Students Against HIV/IDS (SAHA) in

ensuring that the testing campaigns are brought to the University campus. Additionally the Test for life

campaign will collaborate with SAHA in forming post test clubs and use of peer educators to keep people

motivated to maintain their status after testing

A strong social marketing component and promotions using electronic and mass media will continue to be

done during 2008, in addition to the giving of the Zebras for Life, Test for Life empowerment bracelets to

those who test at the community and outreach events. The wrist bands function has an incentive to test, a

powerful reminder of the importance of HIV testing, and the contribution to de-stigmatize HIV testing. The

Zebras for Life project will also work with NACA, MOH and other key stakeholders to convene a meeting to

share best practices and generate a plan for scaling up counseling and testing services.

08.X1507: Embassy State - Public Affairs Office

Funds will support PEPFAR activities at the Embassy including meetings, receptions, staff travel and

support for dissemination activities with journalists and representatives of the media including conferences,

workshops and special projects and reports.

08.X1506: State - Management (2 LES)

Working with USAID and the other PEPFAR agencies, State Department will finalize four new PEPFAR

positions, advertise and recruit local citizens to fill the jobs. Two positions, which are technical program

assistants for OVC and Palliative Care are included in the entries for these components. The other two

positions are cross-cutting management support jobs that are required to support the expansion of USAID

funding and agreements. The two positions are:

1.Contracting Assistant (FSN 11): Under the direction of the USAID Senior HIV/AIDS Program Manager,

this person will work across all program areas to make sure that acquisition and assistance documents

including scopes of work, budgets and other required documentation for new USAID contracts, task orders,

cooperative agreements and grants are prepared and submitted to the Regional Acquisition and Assistance

Officer (RAAO) in USAID/Pretoria in accordance with the USAID PEPFAR procurement plan. This person

will work directly with Botswana PEPFAR staff from CDC, USAID, Peace Corps and State Department to

guide them in preparing new procurements, amending on-going procurements and closing out projects that

have terminated.

2.Program Assistant (FSN 8): Under the direction of the USAID Senior HIV/AIDS Program Manager, this

person will provide a wide range of support, administrative and logistics management services for all USAID

contracts, task orders, cooperative agreements and grants. This person will work closely with CDC, USAID,

Peace Corps and State Department staff who develop and implement projects funded under USAID

mechanisms. S/he will track documents through the review and clearance process, distribute them,

especially through the required USAID channels, maintain official files, provide logistical support to USAID

TDYers and contract consultants, provide administrative support to the PEPFAR Coordinator, maintain

briefing materials and liaise with implementing partners and the public.

This budget includes salaries, benefits and travel for the positions listed above and ICASS costs for all four

State Department LES positions.