Pact REACH-(Rapid and Effective Action Combating HIV/AIDS) Nigeria Program is a five year program focusing on enhancing the scale and quality of a comprehensive civil society response to HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. The REACH Nigeria program will draw on one of Pact's core competencies of grants management, providing sound stewardship of donor resources; and building organizational and technical capacities of civil society organizations. Pact REACH Nigeria program has the capacity to engage local partners through grants, and this will ensure quality and comprehensive OVC and AB prevention services at the grassroots level. It will also build project management capacity to facilitate the graduation of indigenous sub partners to prime partners.

The goal of this five-year REACH Nigeria Program is to contribute to enhancing the scale and quality of a comprehensive civil society response to HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, with a focus on addressing gaps in HIV prevention and OVC programming. It will mobilize and support community-based responses to AB and OVC programming through an effective and transparent grant award and administration system for the provision of responsive, fast-track grant-making assistance to organizations responding to the Emergency Plan and will provide HIV/AIDS implementers with access to financial resources and high quality technical expertise to assist in achieving and effectively reporting results.

Pact will build sustainability through provision of technical assistance to local sub-grantees in their capacity to deliver quality OVC and AB services at the grassroots level and will strengthen referrals and linkages for increased access to AB and OVC programming through capacity-building of sub-grantees; document evidence-based best practices, lessons learned and new approaches, tools and methodologies by engaging with local sub-grantees; create economic advancement opportunities through the active engagement of private or business sectors in work force development for persons affected by HIV/AIDS and other Caregivers.

Pact's OVC programming will affirm the agenda for responding to the OVC challenge using National guidelines and SOP. The approach will be child centered and family and community focused, thereby strengthening the capacity of families to cope with their problems, mobilizing and strengthening community-based responses, increasing the capacity of children to become proactive in meeting their own needs, and integrating care services for children within existing prevention and care programs. The principles adopted for program design and implementation will be based on comprehensive multi-sectoral and sustainable approaches that seek to meet immediate and long-term support that will promote the safety, survival, well-being and development of OVC, families and communities. In view of the complexities of the needs of the children, collaborative approaches that demand partnerships and community involvement will be utilized. Linkages will be facilitated with relevant government departments and implementing agencies for micro-economic strengthening of families and communities, sustainable livelihood development for youth (vocational training) and legal support for the protection of the rights of OVC (through FIDA- International Federation of Female Lawyers, local legal aid services will be engaged to train child forums and volunteers in basic legal aid support for OVC and families, such as wills, succession planning, identity documents including birth certificates).

Pact REACH Nigeria program will utilize a variety of assessment tools to act as a start point to improving the capacity of partners utilizing a participatory process that leads to institutional strengthening plans. It will contribute to health system strengthening by training a core of community care volunteers and peer educators to provide continuum of care within the community.

Pact REACH Nigeria program will build the skills of parents/caregivers, community volunteers and other selected community focal persons to facilitate access to a range of essential services pertaining to their general welfare, care providers will be trained, including direct providers and supervisors at local and state government levels to provide the various aspects of OVC care services (psychosocial support, basic care and support Community integrated management of childhood illnesses (C-IMCI), on stigma and discrimination reduction and gender issues etc);

AB HIV Prevention programming will utilize the Nigeria's HIV Prevention Plan for its implementation. There will be a particular focus on reaching rural populations with key AB messages. The goal of the AB program is to contribute to reduction in HIV prevalence amongst young people and also promote mutual fidelity amongst married adults. The proposed AB strategies includes: PEP plus model for the school based curricular and non-curricular based approach, Life skills, interventions that address age-appropriate income generation activities and community awareness campaigns. Each individual will be reached with a minimum of three interventions from the five models indicated. The target group and nature of the community will determine the intervention mix. However the core strategy will be Peer Education.

Pact will be programming in the following geo-political zones: North Central-Nasarawa, Niger and Kwara States; South-West-Ekiti and Ondo States; South East-Ebonyi and Enugu States; South South-Bayelsa and Rivers States. The states focusing on OVC are Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ekiti and River States and states focusing on Prevention are Ekiti , Ondo and Bayelsa States

For the 5 years the REACH Nigeria program will: reach 50, 000 OVC, train 21, 026 Care Givers reach 79, 000 persons with AB Prevention messages, train 1, 500 persons to provide AB prevention messages and sub grant to and build capacities of 200 CBOs/ FBOs. REACH Nigeria will implement SI activities by supporting local organization at the national level and in focus states; through the institution/establishment of a Monitoring and Evaluation system that is aligned with the National frameworks. The M&E system will enhance monitoring and management of the program thereby making quality data available at all levels for monitoring, evaluation, guiding program management and communicating program achievements.

Pact REACH Nigeria program will work in collaboration with national, state, LGA and community partners including faith based organizations and support groups of persons living with HIV/AIDS, to strengthen and support the capacity of communities and families to respond to the individual needs of OVC (0 - 17 years) by assessing children's current needs, monitor improvement in specific dimensions of child well being and identify areas of concern that can be served by the Pact program intervention, in order to make an actual difference in the child's well being and in the process build communities committed to quality improvement for OVC.

In country operational plan 2010 (COP 2010) REACH Nigeria will provide services to 1,725 OVC (HIV+ children, children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, street children, children with disabilities, caregivers of OVC and PLWAs and HIV/AIDS affected families) by supporting twenty (20) CBOs/NGOs/ FBOs in Ekiti, and Ebonyi states of Nigeria to ensure access for OVC to essential quality services, including education, health care, nutrition, psychosocial support, protection, shelter and care and household economic activities. Each child will receive at least a minimum of three services, based on individual needs.

The principles adopted for program design and implementation will be based on comprehensive multi-sectoral and sustainable approaches that seek to meet immediate and long-term support that will promote the safety, survival, well-being and development of OVC, families and communities. In view of the complexities of the needs of the children, collaborative approaches that demand partnerships and community involvement will be utilized. Linkages will be facilitated with relevant government departments and implementing agencies for micro-economic strengthening of families and communities, sustainable livelihood development for youth (vocational training) and legal support for the protection of the rights of OVC (through FIDA- International Federation of Female Lawyers, local legal aid services will be engaged to train child forums and volunteers in basic legal aid support for OVC and families, such as wills, succession planning, identity documents including birth certificates).

Pact Nigeria will build the skills and outreach of parents/caregivers, community volunteers and other selected community focal persons to facilitate OVC access to a range of essential services pertaining to their general welfare, altogether 863 care providers will be trained, including direct providers and supervisors at local and state government levels to provide the various aspects of OVC care services (psychosocial support, basic care and support Community integrated management of childhood illnesses (C-IMCI), conduct an orientation of program managers of CBOs, FBOs and service providers to enable them understand OVC issues and project management guidelines, National guidelines and SOP will be distributed, build the capacity of caregivers, teachers, health workers, CBOs, FBOs and community volunteers on stigma and discrimination reduction and gender issues etc); the project will aim to create or improve referral systems to and from health facilities (PMTCT,HCT,TB/HIV) as well as adult and pediatric treatment services), government services, and other community child services.Pact recognizes that all services must be age appropriate and that OVC services and needs will change as a child grows. All referrals will be recorded, actively followed up and reported to ensure accurate data compilation.

Strategic Behavioral Change strategies will be used by Pact and will include a combination of SBC, advocacy, community mobilization, social marketing (through other partners) and social mobilization. This will support the maintenance of positive behaviors and promote behavior change within the extensive range of strategies that fall under the identified programs for orphans and vulnerable children. Appropriate media within the environs will be used to address the local factors that fuel stigma, discrimination and inhibit disclosure. Most of the messages will be integrated into broader prevention and care, support campaigns at all levels but some will be specifically targeted at the community level based on formative research.

Pact will in addition carry out organizational capacity assessments (OCAT) for the 20 CBOs/NGOs/FBOs identified for the project. This will enable them recognize their own potential and address long term organizational sustainability needs as well as to address the immediate technical needs of the care providers using the MCAT.

Kids clubs will be established which will incorporate specific age appropriate life building skills such as life goal planning, personal empowerment, caring for others, public speaking, writing skills and homework support. Under guidance from the state ministry of women affairs, support will first focus on the communities through a phased-in mechanism. In addition, resources will be leveraged from corporate organizations for the provision of nutritional supplements and school supplies. Pact Nigeria will strengthen gender equity in HIV/AIDS care and support programs using a comprehensive approach; addressing the specific needs of children in this regard and emphasizing male involvement in care initiatives to ensure sustainability. Pact will collaborate with other USG implementing partners to wrap around good governance by securing services that protect the rights of the child, enhance food supply, improve sanitation in communities, provide clean water and insecticide treated nets (ITN), and strengthen non-HIV health services, including child health and nutrition.

This project will contribute towards reaching 50,000 OVC out of the USG overall strategic plan for Nigeria. It will also contribute to strengthening the national, state and local level systems for implementing quality OVC programs. The Child Status Index (CSI) will be used for monitoring the OVC in order to assess the impact of the program and improve OVC programming using the National guidelines. The household approach where orphans and vulnerable children along with their caregivers will be registered to benefit from appropriate services will be used. OVC and their caregivers will be recruited into the program by CBOs and FBOs. The community volunteers working for these organisations will identify children and households that fit the criteria of those in need. Children will be identified during day to day interactions at health facilities, churches, mosques and other public places. All sectors of the community including community leaders, women groups, youth leaders, religious/traditional leaders and other key persons will be sensitised to give them an understanding of the project and gain their commitment. The criteria for orphans and vulnerable children who are eligible will be shared with them. REACH Nigeria will implement OVC Monitoring and Evaluation activities by supporting local organizations in the focus states; through the institution/establishment of a Monitoring and Evaluation system that is aligned with the National OVC Monitoring and Evaluation framework. The M&E system will enhance monitoring and management of OVC making quality data available at all levels for monitoring, evaluation, guiding program management and communicating program achievements. Effective data collection, collation, analysis and reporting services will be carried out by Pact to continually assess the programs overall progress towards measurable outcomes. Regular M&E training and mentoring of service providers will also be carried out.

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