This activity relates to HVSI (7210, 7237, 7240, 7250) and has four main components.

The first component consists of continuing TA to TRAC, CNLS, and MOH for the improvement of internal and national monitoring and reporting systems for HIV/AIDS. Tulane University will provide TRAC and MOH with TA for monitoring and reporting. In addition, Tulane University will assist CNLS with 1) the preparation of the Mid-Term Review of the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework (2005 - 2009), and 2) the implementation of the national district level reporting system. Tulane also provided TA for validation and improvement of PMTCT, VCT and ART data. From FY 2004 to FY 2006, Tulane assisted TRAC in developing a national database for PMTCT and VCT data. In FY 2007, Tulane will collaborate with Voxiva, Inc. to support TRAC's ICT unit for the integration of PMTCT and VCT reporting into TRACnet, with a special focus on assuring that outputs are usable and used, as well as strengthening data validation procedures at the central and district levels. Tulane will also assist TRAC to extend its M&E framework to include TB and malaria.

The second component focuses on expanding the content and usability of the HIV/AIDS digital libraries developed by Tulane for TRAC and CNLS in FY 2004 and FY 2005. Tulane will work with the ICT units at TRAC and CNLS to assure that different actors are using/referencing existing works in the digital libraries, and to assist the contributing agencies to augment the proportion of verified collections.

The third component will provide support to TRAC to refine the 2005 BSS questionnaires and sampling in preparation for the 2008 BSS survey. Tulane will build on the more general survey/questionnaire development training conducted with TRAC in FY 2006 by adding BSS specific training to the TRAC Epidemiologic Surveillance Unit to expand TRAC's role in the design phase of future behavioral surveillance and reduce dependence on external TA. The fourth component focuses on strengthening capacity to use GIS. USG (through USAID Rwanda Economic Growth Unit) has supported a range of GIS activities in Rwanda, including the Center for Geographic Information Systems (CGIS) at the National University of Rwanda. CGIS focuses on multi-variate spatial analysis and general GOR mapping needs. The location of CGIS in Butare severely limits the number of decision makers, program managers, directors and technicians who can attend courses. Tulane will facilitate extending teaching and services that focus on the practical application of mapping for decision-support and reporting to Kigali, in collaboration with TRAC's ICT Unit and others.

As a result of this activity, CNLS and TRAC will be provided with TA and 150 individuals will be trained in SI for HIV prevention, care and treatment.

This activity reflects the ideas presented in the EP Five-Year HIV/AIDS Strategy in Rwanda and the GOR National multi-sectoral strategic plan for HIV/AIDS Control by directly supporting the development of a sustainable strategic information system for the national HIV/AIDS program.

This activity relates to HVSI (7248).

In FY 2005, the EP, through Tulane UTAP, established the RHPIF program to build the program planning and M&E capacity of young professionals. The fellowship includes multiple components: training, mentoring, on-the-job experience and two-year paid internships with local public or not-for-profit agencies. Program costs, such as stipends, are managed directly by the NUR/SPH. In addition, the program also trains the host agencies - both public and private sector institutions - to design and implement HIV/AIDS programs. The RHPIF is a multi-sector HIV/AIDS intervention and recruits individuals from a cross-section of academic disciplines such as sociology, architecture, history, administration, finance and law. The RHPIF is a competitive program, receiving over 300 applications for the 15 fellows recruited in FY 2006.

Tulane UTAP works with NUR/SPH as a sub-grantee. Over the first two years of the program, Tulane UTAP gradually transferred responsibilities in technical, financial and managerial matters to NUR/SPH. The majority of the money allocated for this program is in the NUR/SPH sub-contract. Tulane UTAP provides administrative and financial oversight, as well as TA in planning, monitoring, logistics and training. In FY 2006, Tulane is successfully converting this training program into a university-recognized and accredited certificate course. As stipulated by the GOR, the investment in the RHPIF must have an impact beyond the 15 fellows and their designated supervisors who are participating in the FY 2006 program. Therefore, Tulane is training nearly an additional 50 national HIV/AIDS focal points in computer skills and in basic HIV/AIDS program areas, ranging from behavioral change topics to administration and financial management.

In FY 2006, the RHPIF is providing professional development support and leadership to alumni as they complete their two year fellowship. The program is also increasing the geographic distribution of fellows to agencies outside of Kigali. Because there is limited understanding of the role of fellows that sometime led to inadequate mentoring at some agencies, Tulane UTAP is focused on sensitizing the public & not-for-profit sectors about the contributions from these public interest fellows. In a parallel process, Tulane is also working with host institutions to strengthen mentoring skills and ensure appropriate professional development for fellows & their supervisors during their training period. As the program has matured, public sector institutions began to recognize the benefit of the fellows and offered some Fellows full-time employment suggesting that Rwandan NGOs working in the field of HIV/AIDS continue to have a significant need for skilled public health managers.

In FY 2007, Tulane will help the NUR/SPH increase the number of public interest fellows and their host agencies to 18. While the funding level for the program will decrease in FY 2007, Tulane will help the NUR/SPH trim costs without sacrificing the quality of the program with measures such as mobilizing external resources for the HIV/AIDS focal point training component, using the 1st & 2nd cohorts' laptops for subsequent cohorts. The fellowship components will continue to include training, mentoring, on-the-job experience and two-year paid internships with local public or not-for-profit agencies. Program costs, such as stipends, are managed directly by the NUR/SPH in FY 2006 and Tulane will continue to build this institution's capacity with the goal of being able to directly receive funds from donors for the RHPIF program. Tulane will also help the NUR/SPH further develop its marketing of the RHPIF to expand the number of participating host-institutions, future employers and future funding agencies - which are all important components to advance the sustainability of the RHPIF. In FY 2007, Tulane estimates that 15-20% of the total cost of the RHPIF will be used by Tulane UTAP directly while the other 80-85% will go to the NUR/SPH under a sub-contract that this GOR institution will manage on its own. The direct output of this activity is the training of 18 fellows.

These activities reflect the ideas presented in the Rwanda EP five-year strategy and support the GOR's national strategy of human resources and organizational capacity building.