Noted April 16, 2008:

Reprogramming $50,000 from program area AB to program area HVOP to allow the partner to provide full

ABC prevention approach.

Côte d'Ivoire's extended political-military crisis created massive population displacements, with about 2

million internally displaced persons (IDPs) moving primarily from the North to the South of the country. This

difficult situation was exacerbated by the influx of about 40,000 refugees fleeing neighboring countries,

many arriving in refugee reception zones (ZAR) in the Guiglo/Moyen Cavally and Tabou/Bas Sassandra

areas. These displacements have weakened and overloaded health, education, and other services in

affected areas, including those related to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, while community security

networks became dysfunctional due to the breakdown of family and other local structures.

HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis are leading causes of death in Côte d'Ivoire. Women's health is particularly

threatened by HIV/AIDS, as well as by intense and early reproductive-health activity and limited access to

preventive and curative obstetric care. In a crisis setting, women and children are the most vulnerable to

sexual and gender-based violence and poverty, which in turn puts them at greater risk of contracting

HIV/AIDS. While adult HIV prevalence is 4.7% in Cote d'Ivoire, 14% of women ages 30-34 are HIV-positive.

Prevailing socio-economic conditions also put women and children at greater risk of being destitute if they

or family members fall victim to the disease.

To help mitigate the synergistic effects of HIV/AIDS and displacement, the USG in FY08 will fund the

International Rescue Committee to conduct HIV prevention activities targeting refugees, IDPs, and the

general population and economic-strengthening activities for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and

refugees/IDPs.

The IRC recently completed a project funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau for Population,

Refugees, and Migration that included awareness-raising among Liberian refugee youth about HIV/AIDS

prevention. An IRC study in August 2007 found that 98% of those who had participated in IRC awareness-

raising were familiar with the basics of HIV/AIDS transmission, compared to 90% of a non-intervention

population.

With FY08 USG funds, IRC will work toward two specific objectives:

1. Increase awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention methods

2. Contribute to the economic stability of PLWHA and families, especially refugees, affected by the

epidemic.

The IRC will build on its experience in community awareness-raising in Côte d'Ivoire to promote HIV

prevention. Because the political situation continues to change and may produce further population

movements, specific project locations in the Tabou area will be selected when project activities are ready to

begin. Activities will include:

1. Pre- and post-intervention surveys to assess awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention behaviors, including

abstinence, fidelity, and condom use. The first survey will set a baseline for knowledge, attitudes, and

behaviors related to use of HIV/AIDS prevention methods, and the second survey will allow the IRC to

measure change caused by its awareness-raising efforts.

2. Promotion of HIV counseling and testing, PMTCT services, and prevention of sexually transmitted

infections.

3. A media campaign, in consultation with JHU/CCP, promoting HIV/AIDS prevention.

To contribute to the economic stability of PLWHA and families affected by HIV/AIDS, the IRC will identify

people (especially refugee/IDP women and orphaned adolescents living with or affected by HIV/AIDS) in

need of economic support in and around Tabou and then engage them in individual income generating

activities (IGAs). IGAs receiving support will depend on participant interest and market viability and may

include agriculture and small-scale commercial ventures. In addition to supplies and materials to help

establish the IGAs, IRC support will encompass life skills and livelihood lessons on literacy, numeracy,

management, hygiene, nutrition, water and sanitation, reproductive health, gender-based violence, and

HIV/AIDS prevention. This strategy will help fill a gap identified by the IRC: that IGAs in Côte d'Ivoire often

lack sufficient life and livelihood lessons to accompany the direct economic development support.

The IRC will implement a monitoring and evaluation plan tracking project-specific as well as national and EP

indicators. To help build a unified national M&E system, the IRC will participate in quarterly SI meetings and

carry out decision made at these meetings.

Côte d'Ivoire's extended political-military crisis created massive population displacements, with about 2

million internally displaced persons (IDPs) moving primarily from the North to the South of the country. This

difficult situation was exacerbated by the influx of about 40,000 refugees fleeing neighboring countries,

many arriving in refugee reception zones (ZAR) in the Guiglo/Moyen Cavally and Tabou/Bas Sassandra

areas. These displacements have weakened and overloaded health, education, and other services in

affected areas, including those related to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, while community security

networks became dysfunctional due to the breakdown of family and other local structures.

HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis are leading causes of death in Côte d'Ivoire. Women's health is particularly

threatened by HIV/AIDS, as well as by intense and early reproductive-health activity and limited access to

preventive and curative obstetric care. In a crisis setting, women and children are the most vulnerable to

sexual and gender-based violence and poverty, which in turn puts them at greater risk of contracting

HIV/AIDS. While adult HIV prevalence is 4.7% in Cote d'Ivoire, 14% of women ages 30-34 are HIV-positive.

Prevailing socio-economic conditions also put women and children at greater risk of being destitute if they

or family members fall victim to the disease.

To help mitigate the synergistic effects of HIV/AIDS and displacement, the USG in FY08 will fund the

International Rescue Committee to conduct HIV prevention activities targeting refugees, IDPs, and the

general population and economic-strengthening activities for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and

refugees/IDPs.

The IRC recently completed a project funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau for Population,

Refugees, and Migration that included awareness-raising among Liberian refugee youth about HIV/AIDS

prevention. An IRC study in August 2007 found that 98% of those who had participated in IRC awareness-

raising were familiar with the basics of HIV/AIDS transmission, compared to 90% of a non-intervention

population.

With FY08 USG funds, IRC will work toward two specific objectives:

1. Increase awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention methods

2. Contribute to the economic stability of PLWHA and families, especially refugees, affected by the

epidemic.

The IRC will build on its experience in community awareness-raising in Côte d'Ivoire to promote HIV

prevention. Because the political situation continues to change and may produce further population

movements, specific project locations in the Tabou area will be selected when project activities are ready to

begin. Activities will include:

1. Pre- and post-intervention surveys to assess awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention behaviors, including

abstinence, fidelity, and condom use. The first survey will set a baseline for knowledge, attitudes, and

behaviors related to use of HIV/AIDS prevention methods, and the second survey will allow the IRC to

measure change caused by its awareness-raising efforts.

2. Promotion of HIV counseling and testing, PMTCT services, and prevention of sexually transmitted

infections.

3. A media campaign, in consultation with JHU/CCP, promoting HIV/AIDS prevention.

To contribute to the economic stability of PLWHA and families affected by HIV/AIDS, the IRC will identify

people (especially refugee/IDP women and orphaned adolescents living with or affected by HIV/AIDS) in

need of economic support in and around Tabou and then engage them in individual income generating

activities (IGAs). IGAs receiving support will depend on participant interest and market viability and may

include agriculture and small-scale commercial ventures. In addition to supplies and materials to help

establish the IGAs, IRC support will encompass life skills and livelihood lessons on literacy, numeracy,

management, hygiene, nutrition, water and sanitation, reproductive health, gender-based violence, and

HIV/AIDS prevention. This strategy will help fill a gap identified by the IRC: that IGAs in Côte d'Ivoire often

lack sufficient life and livelihood lessons to accompany the direct economic development support.

The IRC will implement a monitoring and evaluation plan tracking project-specific as well as national and

EP indicators. To help build a unified national M&E system, the IRC will participate in quarterly SI meetings

and carry out decision made at these meetings.