Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2012 2013 2014

Details for Mechanism ID: 13563
Country/Region: Botswana
Year: 2012
Main Partner: Population Services International
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: NGO
Funding Agency: HHS/CDC
Total Funding: $750,000

This is a continuation of a three year project to provide technical support to the National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA) to strengthen its capacity to develop the HIV/AIDS National Campaign. The goal of this project is to develop and implement strategic and multi faceted HIV prevention communication campaigns in order to increase the adoption of safer sexual behaviors and uptake of HIV prevention services. Through this project PSI Botswana aims to achieve the following objectives:1. Increase opportunity, ability and motivation of the target population to reduce high-risk sexual behavior2. Strengthen capacity of Government of Botswana (GOB) to design, plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate HIV communication campaigns3. Develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan4. Develop a sustainability plan that will ensure GOBs ability to design, plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate future HIV communication campaigns independently.PSI Botswana will build the capacity of NACA and Ministry of Health (MOH) to develop and implement effective communication campaigns and structures through a participatory approach. This work will be carried out across priority health districts to be agreed with MOH and NACA which could potentially include Gaborone, Francistown, Mahalapye, Lobatse, Kanye, Kweneng and Serowe.Population Services International (PSI) Botswana will work with the District Multi-Sectoral AIDS Committees to engage community level civil society organizations (CSO) in the implementation of campaign activities.PSI Botswana will also conduct quantitative formative assessments for the identified theme areas.To build program efficiencies and achieve cost effectiveness, PSI Botswana will ensure campaigns use an integrated messaging approach.

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Other Sexual Prevention (HVOP): $750,000

The goal of this project is to provide technical assistance to the Government of Botswana (GOB) to develop and implement strategic and multi faceted HIV prevention communication campaigns in order to increase the adoption of safer sexual behaviors and uptake of HIV prevention services. Through this project Population Services International (PSI) - Botswana aims to achieve the following objectives over the life of the project: 1) increase opportunity, ability and motivation of the target population to reduce high-risk sexual behavior, through supporting the current National SMC project; 2) strengthen capacity of GOB to design, plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate HIV communication campaigns by identifying and training 9 GOB campaign leaders; 3) develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan; and 4) develop a sustainability plan that will ensure GOBs ability to design, plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate future HIV communication campaigns independently.PSI Botswana will build the capacity of the National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA), Ministry of Local Government (MLG) and Ministry of Health (MOH) to develop and implement effective communication campaigns and structures that can be maintained long term and institutionalized within NACA, MLG and MOH systems through a participatory approach. The campaign work will be carried out across identified priority health districts to be agreed with MOH, MLG and NACA which could potentially include Gaborone, Francistown, Mahalapye, Lobatse, Kanye, Kweneng, Maun and Serowe. The selection of health districts will however be finalized through upcoming consultations with stakeholders.During the COP 11 period, PSI Botswana consulted with stakeholders to identify themes for the national campaigns relevant for the 15-49 year age range (inclusive of both men and women, rural and urban populations, and most at risk populations). Through a participatory effort with MOH, MLG and NACA, the themes selected for the national campaigns have been identified to be Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) and HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC). While qualitative formative assessments for both thematic areas will be conducted during the life of the project, in COP 12, PSI will conduct qualitative formative assessment for SMC, and for HTC in year two. In an effort to build program efficiencies and achieve cost effectiveness, in COP 12, PSI Botswana will use the Communication & Education budget in this project to support the existing SMC National Project. This budget will be used to increase the number of IEC materials, promotional materials, mass media and community events available to support the current national SMC project, pending agreement with key MOH, NACA and MLG stakeholders.Currently there are no PEPFAR indicators for mass media, so although this is likely to be a major activity area PSI will therefore not report on prevention indicators for number of people reached by individual or small group interventions. However, we will provide narrative updates in our quarterly reports.

Key Issues Identified in Mechanism
Addressing male norms and behaviors
Increasing gender equity in HIV/AIDS activities and services