Peace Corps Malawi (PCM) will work with the existing pipeline to implement the activities described below. PCM requires a moderate pipeline to ensure program continuation, however, this Plan will significantly reduce Post's existing pipeline to a reasonable level.

Overview

PCM has worked closely with the HIV/AIDS Country Team (HCT) in the development and presentation of this implementation plan. PCM's strategy over the PEPFAR Partnership Framework (PPF) period is fully in concert with the goals, objectives, and anticipated outputs of the GOM National Plan, the Malawi PPF and Implementation Plan (IP), OGAC's priorities and the Obama Administration's Global Health Policy. PCM's role in the PPF and all the elements in this section of the COP have the technical, programmatic, and fiscal endorsement of the HCT and the PEPFAR Coordinator. PCM plans to embark on a new paradigm for HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Malawi. The Peace Corps Response Volunteer (PCRV) program will no longer be the keystone of our endeavors; rather, PCM will pursue an integrated, holistic approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and control. Post will anchor this approach in broad and deep Volunteer participation, key ABC prevention efforts aimed at women, pregnant mothers and youth, PMTCT+ activities, and improved management of District AIDS Control Offices via standardized PCRV inputs and deliverables. PCM will pursue innovative, integrated programming with PCVs and ensure improved volunteer reporting through streamlined reporting systems and oversight from PCM staff and complementary USG experts on the HCT.

Goals and Objectives

• To promote safe behaviors and practices in >80% of communities served by PCVs including women, men and youth. • To help empower communities to care for PLWHIV and those affected and assist them to be

economically, socially, and psychologically independent. • To help strengthen local assemblies' systems in their response to HIV. • To pursue and promote innovative practices and programming within Peace Corps Malawi (PCM) to effectively and efficiently deliver integrated HIV/AIDS prevention and control interventions by all PCVs and PCRVs • To promote PMTCT at the community level throughout Malawi in all PCV sites.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, PCM will prioritize the following elements.

HIV Infection Prevention - PCM will focus on prevention of new HIV infections in PCV sites and contiguous communities. PCVs will focus on preventing transmission and mitigating the impacts of infection by working with individuals (including women of reproductive age and pregnant mothers), families, communities, village leadership, and community-based organizations (CBOs) within the Volunteers' purview.

Care - Peace Corps Malawi has 130 volunteers in-country and serve an estimated 650 communities countrywide and have unparalleled access to communities and families throughout Malawi. PCM will train all Volunteers in community-based care and prevention. All Volunteers will canvas their communities, within the realm of cultural appropriateness, to identify PLWAs and families/children affected by HIV/AIDS. Each will endeavor to provide levels of care, counseling, and referral commensurate with their roles and capabilities. PCVs will also provide training and materials to counterparts and community leaders for care and support at the community level. USG collaborating partner institutions and technical experts within the HCT will facilitate material identification and use.

System Strengthening/Capacity Building - PCM will enhance system strengthening and capacity building of the District response to HIV/AIDS through the GOM's decentralization program at District Assemblies. The keystone of this component is the PCRV District Assembly support activity. Over the PPF timeframe, we anticipate deploying appropriately skilled PCRVs in all 28 districts. However, the Program remains immature at present and Post will phase in approximately ten PCRVs per year in a January or June Training Input. PCRVs are not routine Volunteers, nor are they third-year Volunteers. Post perceives the PCRV effort as the deployment of junior-level consultants with specific systems-strengthening tasks. Their DA counterparts and the District Commissioner view them as skilled professionals and most serve as Deputy District AIDS Coordinators. A generic scope of work (SOW) is in place that requires substantial technical, analytic, administrative, and programmatic skills and experience. HQ will identify qualified PCRVs (and/or PCVs in the longer-term). However, Post will review the qualifications of all applicants recommended by HQ prior to a final decision. Given budget and implementation realities on the ground, Post will enhance the support for PCRVs to enable them to complete the deliverables

enunciated the SOW. Key elements of district-level system-strengthening/capacity building include, but are not limited to: stakeholder analysis and GIS mapping of stakeholder programs; strengthening the monitoring and evaluation of District Assembly efforts (including CBO activities); budget development and accounts analysis; co-management of special campaigns; resource mobilization (grant writing for external support); stakeholder coordination (meetings, priorities, problem-solving, etc.); project design and development; information/advocacy in urban, peri-urban, and rural communities; and, outreach/coordination of PCV HIV P&C efforts in the districts. Post highlights these deliverables in the OHSS narrative. As noted, to achieve these deliverables, Peace Corps Malawi will enhance technical support the PCRVs, PCVs, and their counterparts with technical training, orientations, mentoring and technical assistance.

Expanded Partnerships - The HIV/AIDS Country Team (HCT) is among the strongest and most unified PEPFAR Teams in Africa. Post will expand inter-Agency partnerships over the PPF period. USG technical experts from all US Agencies (notably CDC and USAID) will strengthen their support to Volunteers and PCRVs in all PEPFAR priority areas. Post will also expand partnerships to other Volunteer organizations such as VSO and JICA, and to key USG collaborating partners such as MSH, AED, CARE, SCF, PSI, Concern International, WALA, NGOs, CBOs, and other partners as appropriate. The horizon for integrated support for PCM and its Volunteers is vast. PCM will maximize this potential over the life of the PPF.

Linkages with the Partnership Framework

As noted above, PCM's HIV/AIDS P&C program is in full concert with the GOM Country Plan and the approved PEPFAR Partnership Framework. PCM will work in the areas of Sexual prevention, other prevention, HBHC, HKID and OHSS. Post will train all new and serving volunteers and their counterparts on HIV/AIDS global epidemiology, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Malawi, state-of-the-art (SOTA) HIV P&C, and the practical application of monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (M&E). Furthermore, all trainees, PCVs, and PCRVs will receive training in, and updates on the GOM National Response to HIV/AIDS and HCT/PEPFAR priorities therein.

PCM will also develop a "buffet" of deliverables for the regular PCV program. These deliverables will ensure direction of PCV opportunities and efforts, and promote integration of HIV/AIDS activities into all volunteer primary assignment/duties. All HIV/AIDS related technical trainings will be incorporated into the Pre-Service Training (PST), In-Service Training (IST), Mid Service Training (MST), and other trainings arranged by post. Post will also exercise greater flexibility to integrate HIV/AIDS and other health/development challenges facing Malawi including gender inequality, girls' empowerment, and other social, cultural, and economic challenges.

Post will ensure prudent expansion of the program by continuing with placement of volunteers, i.e. an appropriate mixture of PCRVs in district Assemblies and PCVs in rural/peri-urban communities. PCM will expand our PCRV program to 20 Assemblies in PFIP Years 1 & 2 and expand as appropriate in PFIP Year 3. We anticipate deeper maturity and innovation will evolve in the program regarding PCRV skills/experience and tasks/deliverables. Post will also explore greater flexibility of the PCRV and PCV program and opportunities and find innovative ways to utilize PEPFAR funds given PEPFAR's reauthorization, new PEPFAR leadership and the Administrations Global Health priorities. The program will also explore options of PCRV placement in PEPFAR-funded partner NGOs in Malawi that are doing capacity building for local assemblies and/or community institutions. As implied, Post will also actively participate in reviewing PCRV qualifications to ensure a more efficient and effective recruitment process and reduce attrition. Post will strengthen PCV and PCRV training through inter-Agency collaboration and the use/provision of national training materials and those developed by USG and other collaborating partners (e.g. Life Skills training, safe water [water guard/PUR], Bridge Project materials, etc.).

Research, Monitoring and Evaluation

PC/M will strengthen and streamline monitoring and evaluation of the program technically regarding PCRV/PCV reporting. To guarantee uniform data collection among all volunteers, PC/M will ensure consistent and correct usage of the Volunteer Reporting Tool (VRT). PCM staff will assist in monitoring VRT submissions and endeavor to simplify reporting based on seminal indicators and an appreciation of limited connectivity and bandwidth in Malawi. APCDs will work with the M&E/Peer Coordinator and as necessary the PEPFAR Strategic Information Officer (SIO) to ensure that the tool is aligned to the PEPFAR indicators and requirements.

Volunteers and their counterparts will assume primary responsibility for data collection and indicator reporting. The M&E/Peer Coordinator (and the SIO when appropriate) will provide on-site technical assistance, mentoring idea development to support to volunteers and counterparts on reporting. Post anticipates this will avoid double counting, and help promote quality assurance of records and data.

For quality assurance, PC/M, with assistance of inter-Agency experts, will conduct M&E sessions for volunteers during PST, IST, and MST. Post will consider additional special sessions at the regional level as the need demands. PCM will collaborate with the SIO to conduct an internal review of its M&E systems to identify options to streamline and improve reporting. HCT Inter-Agency experts will provide materials and technical training for all PCVs and PCRVs throughout the year and during the Partnership Framework period. PC/M will work with existing and new partners to standardized monitoring tools for all

partner projects. PCM will also develop a standardized M&E tool for staff to use during routine site visits. Post will identify a user-friendly data base program to promote accurate and timely data entry and analysis. PCM will analyze the data to track program outputs and identify best practices, lessons learned, and program efficiencies.