PEPFAR's annual planning process is done either at the country (COP) or regional level (ROP).
PEPFAR's programs are implemented through implementing partners who apply for funding based on PEPFAR's published Requests for Applications.
Since 2010, PEPFAR COPs have grouped implementing partners according to an organizational type. We have retroactively applied these classifications to earlier years in the database as well.
Also called "Strategic Areas", these are general areas of HIV programming. Each program area has several corresponding budget codes.
Specific areas of HIV programming. Budget Codes are the lowest level of spending data available.
Expenditure Program Areas track general areas of PEPFAR expenditure.
Expenditure Sub-Program Areas track more specific PEPFAR expenditures.
Object classes provide highly specific ways that implementing partners are spending PEPFAR funds on programming.
Cross-cutting attributions are areas of PEPFAR programming that contribute across several program areas. They contain limited indicative information related to aspects such as human resources, health infrastructure, or key populations programming. However, they represent only a small proportion of the total funds that PEPFAR allocates through the COP process. Additionally, they have changed significantly over the years. As such, analysis and interpretation of these data should be approached carefully. Learn more
Beneficiary Expenditure data identify how PEPFAR programming is targeted at reaching different populations.
Sub-Beneficiary Expenditure data highlight more specific populations targeted for HIV prevention and treatment interventions.
PEPFAR sets targets using the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) System - documentation for which can be found on PEPFAR's website at https://www.pepfar.gov/reports/guidance/. As with most data on this website, the targets here have been extracted from the COP documents. Targets are for the fiscal year following each COP year, such that selecting 2016 will access targets for FY2017. This feature is currently experimental and should be used for exploratory purposes only at present.
The overall goal of this program is to enhance laboratory testing practices and strengthen the quality of laboratory testing services in order to improve the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services and interventions through;
Ensuring adequate numbers of competent laboratory professionals
Developing, implementation and monitoring tools for a comprehensive Quality Management System (QMS).
Developing a comprehensive Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
Establishing guidelines to implement, review, evaluate, update and revise the laboratory strategic plan.
In supporting laboratory training and quality improvement for diagnosis and laboratory monitoring of HIV/AIDS, this project will contribute to the key intervention area, "Decentralized and improved quality of care and treatment services for adults and children, including HIV testing and TB/HIV" in the PEPFAR Swaziland Partnership Framework (PF). The three PEPFAR partners focused on laboratory infrastructure, URC, APHL and ASCP, each bring a set of complementary skills to the program and will work in collaboration with coordinated work planning to build laboratory capacity throughout the country for decentralization of HIV-related services in line with the PF.
ASCP services and interventions will cover all seven public hospital laboratories, seven health center laboratories, as well as the 12 mini laboratories currently being established in rural clinics.
In line with the transition process, ASCP will focus mainly on provision of technical assistance for the development plans, guidelines, manuals curriculum for training, comprehensive information systems. Implementation, monitoring and supervision of day to day activities will be left to local in-country partners linking project activities with other donor funded initiatives and working closely with the GKOS to ensure sustainability of laboratory programs. ASCP aims to build in-country capacity through training of trainers workshops and mentoring programs. The goal of ASCP's programs is to build a core group of laboratory professionals who are well trained, committed, and willing to share their knowledge gradually reducing ASCP's role to one of only technical oversight.
The M&E Plan for this activity includes observation, checklists based on training materials, interviews and lab assessments. ASCP will also roll-out an M&E training event. The training will focus on teaching implementing partners, Quality Managers and others how to monitor and evaluate personnel activities and the knowledge-level. ASCP uses on-site laboratory assessments, pre and post tests, workshop evaluations, and competency tests to monitor the effectiveness of project. ASCP utilizes the expertise of its staff and volunteers to build effective M&E plans and scans and stores its M&E data on a secure server in Chicago, Illinois
As part of PEPFAR's PFIP commitment to provide financial and technical support to the laboratory infrastructure and information systems in support of prevention, care and treatment scale up, the following activities will be undertaken:
ASCP in collaboration with National Clinical Laboratory Services (NCLS) will establish staffing norms and required standards for certification of laboratory personnel at all levels of service provision and develop a comprehensive training and recruitment plan to ensure adequate numbers of competent laboratory professionals. This document will be used for regulation, and standardization of pre-service, in service, scope of practice, and competency assessment of clinical laboratories. ASCP will also assist with development of a curriculum for Continued Professional Development and Upgrading of current staff, as well as set up a training unit which will be housed in the new NCLS building. This will include provision of TA, procurement of training equipment (e.g teaching microscope, conference call commodities, computers, projector etc) and funding for external training programs (e.g., University of Malawi/Botswana).
There is no electronic Laboratory Information System (LIS) to assist in data collection and utilization. Currently, data retrieval is cumbersome if not impossible. Without electronic management of data, little research, monitoring of disease trends and detection of emerging diseases can be achieved. ASCP will support other PEPFAR partners to assist in the development of a comprehensive LIMS in support of the envisaged Laboratory Sample Transportation system.
ASCP will provide direct TA and support to Laboratory organizational leadership in establishing guidelines to review, update and revise the 5-year laboratory strategic development plan (2008-2013) and policy, and enhance capacity development for laboratory supervisors.
To facilitate development of a quality management system that is consistent with the guidance and recommendation of the national laboratory accreditation agencies and the international standards organization such as ISO (ISO15189-2007 standards) for competency and quality for the medical laboratories. ASCP will provide technical assistance for the development of all the necessary documentation including a Laboratory Quality Manual, Laboratory Safety Manual and National Laboratory Standards and Guidelines required for successful implementation of both the Laboratory policy and NCLS 5-year strategic development plan. The final stage of this intervention will be performing external audits to determine readiness for accreditation, followed by facilitation of a formal accreditation process.
Strengthening laboratory management towards accreditation training (SLMTA) consists of three one-week trainings over a 9 month period targeted towards level II and level III laboratorians. The final training would be completed during COP10. Two 1 month long technical assistance and mentorship trips using various consultants will work with laboratories in Swaziland to create sustainability and work towards accreditation. ASCP will also sponsor two stakeholders from Swaziland to attend a Leadership Exchange Seminar at the ASCP offices in Chicago, as well as visit the CDC lab in Atlanta. The meeting will offer the stakeholder an opportunity to learn about laboratory practices in the United States; it will also offer an opportunity to strengthen the relationship and partnership between Swaziland, CDC and ASCP.
