THIS IS AN ONGOING ACTIVITY. THE NARRATIVE HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT CHANGES.

USAID and its partners work with Kenyan organizations to prevent HIV transmission and provide care,

treatment, and support to individuals, families, and communities affected by the epidemic. USAID is the

largest bilateral donor in HIV/AIDS. With its population and child health funds USAID also supports public

and private sector reproductive health activities, and health sector financing, systems. USAID supports the

majority of its HIV/AIDS programs through US- and Kenyan-based organizations, which manage and

implement in-country activities. Activities are funded through grants, PIOs, cooperative agreements and

contracts awarded by USAID/Washington, or directly by the Mission. These activities are carried out at field

level through direct collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other Kenyan governmental authorities.

Many implementing agencies have worked in Kenya for several years and have offices in Nairobi and in

selected provinces. This investment by USAID has enabled it to quickly implement Emergency Plan

activities.

USAID/Kenya's HIV/AIDS funding has grown dramatically in the past decade, from $3 million in FY1996 to

$250 million in FY2007. This increase has made it possible to expand HIV/AIDS programs to a scale where

they can have a truly national impact. It has also presented a significant management, staffing, and

coordination challenge.

Management and staffing activities carried out by USAID/Kenya staff include:

1. Procuring and funding over $200 million worth of goods and services in FY2007 through over sixty

bilateral and centrally procured mechanisms.

2. Serving as activity managers and cognizant technical officers to ensure good technical and financial

management of implementing agencies and programs.

3. Coordinating USAID strategy, planning, and project activities with the GOK to ensure alignment with the

National Health Sector Strategic Plan II and the district and national Annual Operating Plans.

4. Liaising at the technical and policy level with other USG agencies, providing effective coordination with

the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), US Army Medical Research Unit, Peace Corps, and Kenya's USG

Interagency Coordinator and his office.

5. Representing USAID in donor meetings to ensure coordination with other donors, including the Global

Fund coordinating committees.

6. Advising USAID's implementing partners on the indicators and data collection and assure the

development of evaluation plans and utilization of evaluation findings.

7. Preparing overall strategic and operational plans and results reporting for OGAC, including Country

Operational Plans and Progress Reports.

8. Providing in-country oversight to fifteen Track 1 AB and OVC partners.

USAID/Kenya is approaching its ideal mix of staff to handle current funding levels. When the positions

approved in the 2008 COP are filled, there should be adequate procurement and financial management

staff in place. We are requesting eight new FSN positions for SI, finance, home based care, treatment,

program management, prevention, integrated HIV/AIDS/reproductive health, and program assistance, and

one USDH Contracts Officer arriving fourth quarter FY2008. Future increases in funding will require a

review and consideration of a further increase in staffing.

USAID will change hiring mechanisms and replace two exisiting IAP World services Countractors with

Personnel Service Contracts issued by the USAID procurement office. The total number of staff will not

change based on this action.