Introduction. Project Concern International (PCI) is a non-profit health and development organization

committed to preventing disease, improving community health, and promoting sustainable development.

In its 48th year, PCI is presently serving over 4.5 million people annually through programs in 15

countries in the Americas, Asia and Africa.

PCI's global work in HIV/AIDS spans the range of prevention, care and support in countries representing

every stage of the pandemic, from emerging to advanced epidemics. PCI's HIV/AIDS work emphasizes

building lasting local capacity to design, deliver and scale-up high quality HIV/AIDS programs.

Comprehensive Goals and Objectives. The overarching goal of PCI's partnership with the Malawi

Defense Force (MDF) is to engage leadership in strengthening MDF's existing approaches to reducing

HIV prevalence among armed forces personnel and their partners. In FY 2010, PCI will support this goal

through technical assistance for holistic, integrated initiatives along the continuum of care, with a specific

focus on systems strengthening by fostering MDF ownership of an effective response.

Integration with Partnership Framework. PCI and the Malawi Defense Force collaborate to implement

evidence-based strategies in support of the Five Year Benchmarks of Malawi's Partnership Framework,

the goals of the global PEPFAR program and the initiatives of Malawi's National Action Framework. In FY

2010, linkages to these benchmarks will include: fostering institutional capacity building through

leadership development among senior commanders, endorsing an MDF-driven comprehensive HIV/AIDS

response; developing and implementing military-specific behavior change initiatives that contribute to

sustained risk reduction and prevention of HIV among soldiers, their partners and young people;

strengthening of health and social welfare systems that provide care and support for affected individuals,

families and communities; and, expansion of programs that mitigate the health, economic and

psychosocial impacts of HIV/AIDS with emphasis on orphans and vulnerable children.

Geographic Coverage and Target Population. The described collaboration targets the three geographic

regions of Malawi, the sixteen military units therein, their respective uniformed populations with their

families and, in many cases, the contiguous communities of civilians that interface with soldiers on a daily

basis. The estimated size of the primary target population is 30,000 youth and adults, representing

15,000-20,000 soldiers and their dependents. A significant number of this primary target population is

comprised of young people, both youthful soldiers themselves and dependent children of military families.

Additional direct beneficiaries live in communities contiguous to the 16 military units, accounting for

another 30,000 or more direct beneficiaries.

Strategy for Improved Efficiency. PCI sees an enormous opportunity to leverage the human and financial

resources of the MDF with those of other stakeholders, including those of local government district

assemblies which serve communities contiguous with military units. Sharing of limited resources and

promises practices for prevention and care will enhance efficiency and effectiveness. PCI will support the

MDF as they strengthen a multi-sectoral response that greatly impacts both military and civilian

populations.

Cross-Cutting Attributions. In FY 2010, PCI will allocate funding to Human Resources for Health through

ongoing leadership development among senior commanders ($19,200). Additionally, skills building in-

service trainings will address the following: peer education for behavior change that promotes risk

reduction ($7680); Prevention with Positives programs targeting sero-discordant couples ($5280);

community care for OVC ($8800); increased uptake of counseling and testing through its integration with

home-based care programs ($5280); and, promoting human capacity for expanded M&E programs at the

field level for improved data management ($5280). PCI will additionally promote economic strengthening

among youth in Edzi Toto Clubs ($4500) and among caregivers who provide support for orphaned

children ($7,500). It is through these venues that PCI will provide technical assistance for the

development of communal gardens to improve food and nutrition security for vulnerable populations.

Key Issues. Throughout all project activities, PCI will address gender equity and other behavioral norms

among soldiers that contribute to gender-based violence (GBV) and coercive sex. Within PCI's Defense

Force Leadership Program, commanders will confront issues of gender inequity and collective behaviors

that contribute to heightened risk for HIV infection. As a result of strengthened institutional capacity,

referral systems will evolve to effectively link soldiers and their spouses/partners to primary health

services including family planning, maternal child health care and nutrition counseling and support.

Summary Monitoring and Evaluation Plans. The proposed program will have an impact both on military

personnel and their family members, as well as the organizational capacity of the MDF to implement,

monitor and evaluate HIV prevention programs. PCI will continue to use the Performance Monitoring

Plan to track the project's expected results, illustrative indicators and targets. In addition to the core

PEPFAR indicators for each technical area, PCI will report on process indicators for each activity, which

will be included in reporting cycles as appropriate.

PFIP Year 1 Funding - $395,091

PFIP Year 2 Funding - $0