Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2011 2012 2013 2014

Details for Mechanism ID: 13090
Country/Region: Namibia
Year: 2012
Main Partner: Project HOPE
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: NGO
Funding Agency: USAID
Total Funding: $900,000

This IM will be implemented by Project Hope. It focuses on mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS on OVC and OVC caregivers, addressing economic needs and health aspects of HIV and tuberculosis (TB). It has three strategic results: 1) improved economic status of communities and households caring for OVC and TB patients; 2) Strengthened community and household capacity to provide health services including TB services and psycho-social services for OVC and TB patients; and 3) Strengthened linkages and referrals of communities and households to services. The mechanism is in line with USG commitments of the Partnership Framework. It supports the GHI strategic area of transition and access in that it addresses structural barriers and builds capacity to ensure program sustainability and improves access by strengthening linkages and referrals.

The geographic coverage includes six political regions: Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Kavango, and Caprivi. The target populations are: a) caregivers of OVC b) OVC in their care and c) TB patients and patients co-infected by TB and HIV.

The IM will become more efficient over time by delivering services in partnerships with the private sector. The IM trains local CBO to promote technical sustainability of program objectives. The monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan will measure outcomes at the household and child levels. M&E for the community-based directly observed therapy activities uses the governments reporting system and reports to the health system.

This project has not purchased any vehicles. In COP12 the purchase of one vehicle is planned. It will replace two older vehicles due to cost of repairs and time lost to maintenance. It is the only vehicle purchase planned for the life of the mechanism.

Funding for Care: Orphans and Vulnerable Children (HKID): $700,000

This is a continuing activity implemented by Project HOPE. The OVC and TB Services in Namibia project goal is to strengthen the capacity of families to care for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). It targets guardians and parents of OVC in six regions (Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto, Kavango, and Caprivi), providing them with community based comprehensive health education combined with economic strengthening interventions. Given that the majority of OVC caregivers are female, the project will target women with the aim of increasing access to income and productive resources.Activities include establishment of village savings and loans groups amongst OVC caregivers combined with health education focusing on young child health, hygiene, nutrition and psycho-social aspects of parental care.Program strategies were adjusted based on findings from an external evaluation completed in 2010 and program data collected from 2007-2010. Key changes include: 1) implementing economic strengthening through partnership with a local micro-lender; and 2) increased focus on caregiver savings. Outcomes are measured through baseline and recollection of data using tools that measure changes in the economic status of a household and changes in the status of children in the home. Caregivers are supported to access the health and social welfare systems, including child welfare grants, through referrals. Further, vulnerable youth are assisted to complete applications to vocational training institutions. Project HOPE collaborates with the relevant government providers of bursaries to support inclusion of vulnerability criteria as part of selection procedures.Project HOPEs work in economic strengthening and OVC is a recognized strength, therefore the partner trains community based organizations to deliver care using their combination approach.

Funding for Care: TB/HIV (HVTB): $200,000

Project HOPE works through the National TB and Leprosy Program (NTLP) to support the NTLPs community-based directly observed therapy strategy (CB-DOTS) in three regions: Oshana, Oshikoto and Kavango. Project HOPE is a member of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) TB National Steering Committee. The CB-DOTS under this IM engages field promoters, in line with the national approach, who form the link between communities and patients and health facilities.Project HOPEs contribution is evident in the high TB treatment success rates of 84% in Oshana and Oshikoto as well as 74% in Kavango Region. Effective coordination exists with USG partner Development AID for People from People (DAPP). Project HOPE has a statement on collaboration with DAPP which defines priorities for collaboration in areas of geographic overlap.HR capacity and sustainability: The program trains community based health care workers on a continuous basis and through refresher trainings with technical support from the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS). Funding through the Global Fund for the program will support sustainability of USG investments.The primary source of TB data used is the MOHSSs Electronic TB Register (ETR) fed by the paper-based registers which capture information about all confirmed TB patients supported by the NTLP. Project HOPEs data contributes to results and reporting by the NTLP. Revised TB/HIV indicators are reported through the NTLP. Additionally, field promoters conduct household visits and outreach sessions to verify data collection and improve recording and reporting of TB and TB/HIV collaborative activities captured in the ETR.Low coverage for Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) is an identified weakness. Project HOPE has responded by promoting demand-driven service delivery, and TB patients and their contacts are educated on IPT and when it is appropriate for use, during household visits. Additionally, TB services have been integrated into OVC activities to improve case detection.

Cross Cutting Budget Categories and Known Amounts Total: $400,000
Economic Strengthening $400,000
Key Issues Identified in Mechanism
Increasing gender equity in HIV/AIDS activities and services
Increasing women's access to income and productive resources
Child Survival Activities
Tuberculosis