NOTE: The following is taken from summaries released by PEPFAR on the PEPFAR Data Dashboard. They are incomplete summary paragraphs only and do not contain the full mechanism details. When the full narratives are released, we will update the mechanism pages accordingly.

The USAID-funded Dignitas International (DI) project was awarded in May 2010 to support the national HIV response in 6 districts (Balaka, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Phalombe and Zomba) in the South East Zone (SEZ). Close to 3.1 million people live in the SEZ, a region where almost 66% of the new HIV infections in Malawi occur. In COP14, DI will support 126 priority health facilities in SEZ. The project’s main objectives are reducing new HIV infections, improving treatment, care and support for people with HIV/AIDS, and strengthening health systems. The program aims to build sustainable, locally owned capacity and increased autonomy by delivering services through the existing health structures, and by planning interventions in consultation with MoH officials at all levels, including integration of project activities in District Implementation Plans. This has made it possible for DI to incorporate innovations, while remaining consistent with goals/implementation plans developed under the National Strategic Plan. DI uses an integrated and coordinated program approach to mentor, train and deliver services for a cost-efficient use of resources. These objectives are well aligned with the Malawi Partnership Framework Implementation Plan.

The project targets people living with HIV (PLHIV), frontline health care workers, health system supervisors and managers, and the population of the SEZ in general. DI conducts routine, integrated M&E including operations research to track progress, identify bottlenecks and measure outcomes. The project uses both standard PEPFAR and custom indicators for its program monitoring. Dignitas will implement high intensity standardized package of interventions (including HRH support) in all relevant technical areas.

Since COP2014, PEPFAR no longer produces narratives for every mechanism it funds. However, PEPFAR has now included performance targets or indicator information for each mechanism based on the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) system. The MER guidance is available on PEPFAR's website https://www.pepfar.gov/reports/guidance/. Note that COP years 2014-2015 were under a previous version of the MER system and the indicators and definitions may have changed as of the new 2.0 guidance.