The anticipated PSI/ASF FY10 activities are part of a broad four-year project launched in October 2009, built on expertise gathered, lessons learned and interventions performed during a 2005-2009 USAID- funded project in DRC. By targeting populations most at risk for HIV acquisition and transmission in order to affect HIV transmission dynamics and reduce new cases of HIV infections, PSI/ASF will strive to participate in PEPFAR efforts in DRC, in collaboration with governmental partners (such as DRC's National Multisectoral AIDS Commission (PNMLS), MOH National HIV/AIDS/STI Program (PNLS),

HIV/AIDS sectorial programs (Army, Police)), civil society (schools, NGOs, religious groups, associations of PLWHA), private sector (the Inter-Business Committee for the Fight against AIDS) and other PEPFAR- funded partners.

With FY09 funds, PSI/ASF plans to implement an integrated project by increasing the supply of, the awareness of and the informed demand for effective health products, services, and behaviors in the areas of HIV/AIDS/STI, family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH), maternal and child health (MCH) and water and sanitation. HIV interventions are conducted in provincial capitals and other major urban and peri-urban areas in 25 of the 80 USAID focused health zones, divided in 4 provinces (Katanga - District of Kolwezi; Sud Kivu - Districts of West, Bukavu, South, North and Centre; Kasai Oriental - Districts of Mbuji Maji, Katako Kombe and Lodja; Kasai Occidental - Districts of Kananga and Lulua). Accordingly to populations with high risk behaviors identified by the 2007 DHS, these prevention interventions target men and women 15-49, youth 15-24, men aged 20-49 engaged in concurrent sexual partnerships, female sex workers (FSWs), clients of sex workers, other MARPs including mobile populations (e.g., miners, uniformed service personnel, truckers and other transporters) and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). During this period, PSI/ASF expects to distribute through its USG funded social marketing program, both male and female condoms through points-of-sale integrated in a strong distribution network. At the national level, this distribution will be complemented by UNFPA, UNDP (funded by The Global Fund) and PNMLS (funded by the World Bank) efforts for condom distribution in other health zones.

With FY10 funds, PSI/ASF envisions expanding activities to additional USAID rural HZ as supply allows, and in discussion with USAID and its other USAID implementing partners working in these zones. PSI/ASF will capitalize on integration within health areas through its "ABCD" HIV/AIDS/STI programming including both male ("Prudence") and female ("Prudence Femme") condoms which empower target populations to make more informed choices. PSI/ASF will broaden the scope of this messaging following the findings of the 2010 HIV/AIDS/STI TRaC study to ensure that this portfolio evolves in response to the latest evidence, particularly pertaining to MARPs. The project seeks to address negative gender and sexual violence norms, promote sexual risk reduction, especially emphasizing partner reduction and condom use; and promote uptake of HIV testing, and STI and HIV care and treatment services, including secondary prevention for HIV-positive persons and within HIV-discordant couples.

Sustainability is a major priority of the PSI/ASF program and has been a key component to strategy development and activity implementation. In general, members of target groups are routinely included in the implementation of project activities. For instance, target group representatives are trained by trainers in the provision of service delivery (e.g. peer education) so activities can continue even after the project ends. Additionally, behavior change techniques and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) tools are also produced and disseminated to facilitate behavior change communication activities amongst

target population groups while target population supervisors within each intervention area ensure the monitoring of interventions and the quality of services. Moreover, PSI/ASF will partner with Social Impact to provide systematic support to local NGO partners in key areas such as financial and administrative management, planning, and skills building activities including improved M&E. Local NGOs will be better able to receive and manage health and development funding. A network of condom sales points has been set up around program sites and linkages have been created with the traditional national distribution network through private wholesalers to ensure product availability for the target population.

PSI/ASF will continue to implement an M&E plan to ensure service quality based on national and USG requirements and will report to USAID quarterly program results and ad hoc requested program data. Data collection will be through the periodic reporting (monthly and quarterly) made at three different levels (Peer educators - coordination of partners (NGOs, PALS, PMILS, PLWHA Associations, etc.) - PSI/ASF). To help build and strengthen a unified national M&E system, PSI/ASF will participate in coordination and strategic information meetings at all levels (national, provincial, district, health zone) and will adapt directions given during these meetings to the project.

With FY09 funding, PSI/ASF plans to reach 6,000 people through interpersonal communication targeting youth (with abstinence messages) and couples in religious communities (with mutual fidelity messages).

With FY10 funds, the project will build upon previous project activities to expand prevention interventions in existing project sites, adding some sites for specific interventions as explained above. Key activities promoting HIV prevention through AB methods will include: - Advocacy to primary and secondary education Provincial Ministries for integrating HIV in training curricula for students and training of teachers in behavior change techniques; - Advocacy to PALS (Army) and PMILS (Police) for the integration of basic knowledge about HIV in the curriculum and training of teachers in military and police initial training schools; - Identification and training of community-based animators and peer educators (in NGOs targeting OVC, youth leaders, faith-based communities, sport clubs, women associations); - Production of revised BCC tools (such as flip charts, posters, flyers) based on results of PSI/ASF's formative research study (Tracking Results Continuously, or TRaC), to be shared with PNLS and USAID, to support partners activities; - Behavior change communication activities focused on abstinence and delay of sexual debut, delivered by peers and influential elders and including recreational and cultural activities among youth; - Activities focused on young girls, such as training women as peer educators who can lead activities that promote exchanges among young girls about their specific vulnerabilities and issues. In addition, PSI/ASF will : - Carry on regular meetings with peer educators, community-based educators and partners leaders to give feed back related to periodic project data analysis; - Continue regular internal and quarterly external supervisions, with standards-of-performance tools, to improve consistently the quality of interventions, in collaboration with PNLS, PNMLS and Health Zones Chiefs.

In total, 20,000 people will be reached through behavior change communication in small groups, and 70,000 during mass animation with MVUs for abstinence and mutual fidelity promotion.

With FY09 funding, PSI/ASF plans to reach 3,000 people through IPC targeting groups with high risk behaviors such as military, police officers, CSW, transporters and miners, with a distribution of 21,6 millions male and 500,000 female condoms.

With FY10 funds, the project will build upon previous project activities and key interventions promoting HIV prevention through other means of prevention will include: - Advocacy to PALS (Army) and PMILS (Police) for the integration of basic knowledge about HIV in the curriculum and training of teachers in military and police initial training schools; - Identification and training of community-based animators and peer educators among CSW leaders, pimps, bars and hotels managers; - Identification and training of PLWHA as new target group on positive prevention, in coordination with the National Network of PLWHA NGOs and PNLS; - Production of revised BCC tools (such as flip charts, posters, flyers) based on results of PSI/ASF's formative research study (TRaC), to be shared with PNLS and USAID, to support partners activities; - Packaging and distribution of male and female condoms through expanded distribution network including wholesalers to retailers, local NGOs, pharmaceutical sales outlets, military and police camps, PLWHA centers, bars and hotels; - Radio spots production and placement for condom consistent and correct use; - Participation in provincial and national meetings of the Condom Working Group (including institutions such as PALS, PNLS, UNDP, UNFPA, local NGOs) under the leadership of PNMLS. In addition, PSI/ASF will : - Carry on regular meetings with peer educators, community-based educators and partners leaders to give feed back related to periodic project data analysis; - Continue regular internal and quarterly external supervisions, with standards-of-performance tools, to improve consistently the quality of interventions, in collaboration with PALS, PMILS, PNLS, PNMLS and Health Zones Chiefs.

In total, 12,000 people will be reached through behavior change communication in small groups (2,000 CSW, 2,700 militaries, 2,800 police officers, 2,300 transporters, 1,200 miners and 1,000 PLWHA), and 25 millions of male and 700,000 female condoms will be distributed.