The Project aims to build the organizational capacity of NGOs working in HIV prevention among MARPs. The project will work with NGOs based in Jamaica, The Bahamas, and other Caribbean countries to increase the reach of quality services for the following target groups: MSM , SW, PLHIV, and youth engaged in high-risk behaviors. The project provides technical assistance and mentoring to strengthen organizations ability to effectively manage financial resources, implement and monitor evidence-based interventions, and develop strategies to ensure their sustainability. In addition to the trainings and individual mentoring, World Learning also provides grants ranging in duration from one to three years and the total funding amounts are between $75,000 and $900,000. This Project supports the Partnership Framework Objective of preventing new infections while increasing the capacity of local partners to provide improved coverage and quality of HIV prevention services and information. WL develops an M&E Plan with each Sub-Awardee to track the results and measure the impact of each activity. WL also has an M&E plan as part of their Cooperative Agreement providing quarterly reports with agreed upon indicators.

This Project is a five year cooperative agreement running from November 2010 2015. In order to become more cost-effective over time and transition the activities to host governments and civil society, the Project will work to strengthen governments ability to make and oversee HIV grants to local partners. WL will also assist NGOs in fundraising skills and obtaining other donor funding. WL will identify a local NGO partner to be a lead orgaization in providing capacity building trainings and mentoring to young or new NGOs after the Project ends.

World Learning (WL) will address the lack of capacity of local NGOs to implement HIV prevention activities, including their need for trained management and financial staff, functioning board of directors, strategic planning and information for programming and reporting of activities, and addressing issues of sustainability and good governance. In the first three to four years, the Project will focus on releasing solicitations, making sub-grants, assessing the capacity development needs of each sub-Awardee in a participatory process, and providing the needed technical assistance and mentoring. A number of the sub-grants include a cost-share from civil society organizations. The final two years will focus primarily on requested refresher trainings and assisting former and current Sub-Awardees with pursuing additional resources. Fundraising and leveraging support from the private sector and other donors will be an important component of WLs assistance. In addition to building the capacity of local NGOs, WL will also work with host governments as requested to strengthen their ability to make and manage sub-grants. In Jamaica for example, reporting and financial management challenges existed between the MOH and Sub-Recipients during the last Global Fund award. The Project aims to help improve the sub-granting process and the donor-recipient relationship, especially in the event of additional Round 11 Global Fund resources. In Jamaica, the MOH will release its own solicitation (using PEPFAR resources) and make sub-grants to local organizations, thus transitioning out World Learning and increasing country ownership.

Here is the approximate dollar amount and coverage by target population: $248,000 to reach 645 SW; $714,500 to reach 769 MSM; $170,000 to reach 2340 at-risk youth; and $200,000 to reach 151 PLHIV. This represents funding and targets for FY12 activities in Jamaica and The Bahamas. Activities include empowerment workshops, drop-in centers, social media messaging, HIV testing parties, free condoms and lubricant, advocacy, training Peer Educators, support groups, etc.

The Project currently supports 10 Jamaican organizations working primarily in Kingston, Ocho Rios, and Montego Bay. An estimated four sub-awards are in the procurement process in The Bahamas which will cover the following islands: Nassau (New Providence), Grand Bahama, Abaco, Eleuthera, Bimini, and Exumas. There are not reliable size estimates for these populations in either country, but Jamaica has a size estimation component included in their on-going MSM and SW Surveys. The priority target groups are: MSM, Female and Male Sex Workers, their clients, PLHIV, and youth engaged in high risk behaviors. The grants support NGOs to increase the scale and quality of HIV/AIDS prevention programs serving these populations. The type, mix, and dosage of interventions varies among sub-partners, but in general the purpose of these grants is to support innovative, gap-filling, comprehensive programs. The Project prioritizes highly innovative organizations that demonstrate their ability to win the trust and engagement of MARPs. Activities are well linked to the MOHs public health clinics and HIV prevention activities. Many of the Jamaican NGOs adopted elements of the MOHs Empowerment Workshop model. Also a number of organizations are referring individuals to the MSM and SW drop-in centers which are PEPFAR funded through the MOH. Many Sub-Awardees participate in the National MSM/SW TWG that helps coordinate and link activities. World Learning provides training in M&E and will conduct site visits to oversee Sub-Awardees.