INTEGRATED ACTIVITY FLAG:

This activity is integrated with the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) activities in ARV Services (#7593), ARV Drugs (#7985), CT (#7987) and SI (#7594).

SUMMARY:

The program supports the expansion of access to comprehensive HIV and AIDS care by focusing on service delivery and Human Capacity Development with a view to increasing the detection and treatment of patients with TB and HIV co-infection. The major emphasis area for these activities is human resources but several other emphasis areas (including commodity procurement, quality assurance and training) support the success of the overall effort. Target populations for these activities include people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV), their families and children, public and private health care doctors, nurses and other workers, and community-based organizations (CBOs), faith-based organizations (FBOs), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The activities also directly and indirectly target PLHIV and most at risk populations.

BACKGROUND:

The Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) is a South African Private Institution of Higher Education working exclusively in the health sector in Southern Africa. PEPFAR funding has allowed large scale training and antiretroviral treatment to take place over the past year. Although FPD has not previously received PEPFAR funding for TB/HIV activities, FPD supports ART sites that are in high TB incidence/prevalence areas with case rates ranging from 300-1500:100,000 and as such there has been a growing awareness that emphasis needs to be placed on the diagnosis and treatment of TB. In addition, in 2005, FPD provided training for over 600 clinicians and nurses on the management of TB/HIV. In FY 2006 a target was also introduced for identifying TB/HIV co-infected individuals at 10 of the ART sites supported by FPD. Treatment related activities are closely coordinated with provincial Departments of Health (DOH) through memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with provincial DOH and through close coordination with district TB programs. National Department of Health (NDOH) guidelines are also incorporated in all activities and training programs. A gender focus is built into all aspects of the project ranging from ensuring gender parity in uptake of testing and treatment, including gender in data collection, all counselors will be trained on aspects relating to male norms and behavior and equal access to training activities will be ensured. It is envisaged that FPD will be the main project implementer, however, sub-agreements with CBOs and FBOs may be used to increase community participation and to increase CT for TB and HIV. This project will place specific emphasis on gender issues in the context of the CT activities. All CT staff will be trained and provided with counseling tools in order to equip them to undertake couple counseling, identify counsel and refer victims of sexual abuse and violence, and stigma reduction.

This project will also address gender, and stigma and discrimination. Most of these activities will be aimed at strengthening the public healthcare system, promoting closer cooperation between the public sector and civil society institutions, and developing human capacity. Activities will offer sustainable and long-term benefits for the SA healthcare system.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: Support to South African Government

FY 2007 PEPFAR funds will be used for human resources at public sector ART sites and surrounding TB clinics. Funds will be utilized predominantly and in the form of salary support for FPD staff seconded to these sites. Sustainability will be ensured through strengthening systems and developing and supplementing capacity of existing government staff to increase identification of TB/HIV co-infected individuals, through promoting routine HIV CT for TB patients and routine TB screening of HIV patients at TB treatment sites. This will allow in time withdrawal of FPD seconded staff. Emphasis will also be placed on strengthening systems and developing and supplementing capacity to increase identification of TB/HIV co-infected individuals, through promoting routine HIV CT for TB

patients and routine TB screening of HIV patients at TB treatment sites. Dedicated and cross-trained TB/HIV counselors will be placed at all TB sites who will actively promote CT amongst TB patients. TB Nurses will be deployed to all ARV sites and tasked with increasing the diagnosis of TB, especially sputum-infected TB in patients receiving ART. TB screening will be done by nurses following a protocol of history taking, routine sputum specimens, and x-rays as needed, and suspected smear-negative TB will be referred to an infectious disease clinician. These dedicated nurses will also ensure a fast track for patients requiring TB therapy and will maintain contact with patients to ensure they are not lost to ART. Co-infected patients who are on ARV treatment and TB treatment simultaneously will receive additional clinical monitoring due to the increased risk of Immune Reconstitution Syndrome, and challenges in the profiling of side effects. Emphasis is placed on adherence support to address the heightened risk of non-compliance due to high pill burden, and to cope with higher incidence of side effects due to drug interaction and overlapping hepatotoxicity. This activity plays an institutional strengthening role at TB sites with a view to such sites becoming ART down referral sites. PEPFAR funds will also be used to address minor infrastructure needs e.g. sputum rooms, nebulization apparatus and mobile x-ray facilities to improve the diagnosis and infection control of TB transmission. Funds will be utilized for culture and sensitivity tests where MDR-TB is suspected if government protocols or facility budgets do not make provision for such testing.

ACTIVITY 2: Outreach

Active TB case finding will be utilized at selected sites to increase uptake of TB and HIV testing amongst contacts of patients with TB and HIV co-infection. Dedicated staff (mentioned in Activity 1) will actively trace all contacts of TB patients on treatment to encourage the participation of these contacts in CT for both TB and HIV.

ACTIVITY 3: Human Capacity Development

This activity ensures a cadre of skilled healthcare practitioners, in predominantly government service, are able to provide care to PLHIV who are co-infected with TB. Healthcare workers will be trained on various subjects such as: clinical management of AIDS and TB, Management of CT, Palliative care, and Adherence and Workplace, using a proven short course training methodology that provides training close to participants work. PLHIV form part of the faculty to help with stigma reduction among participants and to articulate the needs of PLHIV. To maintain knowledge, an alumni program of newsletters and regular refresher sessions has been developed. Given the high risk that MDR-TB poses for immune compromised individuals, particular emphasis will be placed on training facility managers, facility designers and clinical managers on infection control.

ACTIVITY 4: Referral and linkages

The strengthening and expansion of referral networks and linkages with care and treatment services for clients identified TB/HIV co-infected will be a central focus of the project. Linkages with community mobilization and outreach activities will be initiated to promote the uptake of both TB and HIV CT services

PEPFAR funds may be utilized in the form of sub-awards for NGOs working in the field of DOTS support and community outreach.

FPD will contribute to the PEPFAR goals of 2-7-10 by developing the capacity of organizations to expand access to ART services for adults and children, building capacity for monitoring ART service delivery and reaching thousands of individuals with care and ART.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY FLAG:

This activity is integrated with the Foundation for Professional Development's (FPD) activities in South Africa under ARV Services (#7593), ARV Drugs (#7985), TB/HIV (#7985), and Strategic Information (#7594).

SUMMARY:

This FPD project focuses on promoting early diagnosis of HIV as an entry point to wellness programs and access to prophylactic treatment. FPD will expand counseling and testing (CT) activities from institutional based CT at ART sites to introduce new easily accessible CT at sites based in civil society e.g. pharmacies, faith-based organizations (FBOs), tertiary academic institutions and private medical practices. FPD will focus on offering routine CT (RCT) for all patients admitted to public sector hospitals where FPD supports ART services. The major emphasis area for these activities is human resources but several other emphasis areas (including development of networks/referral mechanisms, information education and communication, and training) support the success of the overall effort. Target populations for these activities include out-of-school youth, adults, public and private healthcare workers, CBOs, FBOs and NGOs. The activities also directly and indirectly target people living with HIV (PLHIV) and most at risk populations.

BACKGROUND:

FPD is a South African private institution of higher education working exclusively in the health sector in southern Africa. PEPFAR funding has allowed large-scale training and substantially increased access to ART. FPD has not received PEPFAR funding for CT activities in the past, but CT services are an integral part of the comprehensive care package offered at a number of FPD supported clinics since FY 2004. To date, FPD has provided training for over 400 clinicians and nurses on VCT. Coordination with provincial Departments of Health (DOH) takes place through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs). The project will focus on various gender-related activities as described in Activity 5. It is envisaged that FPD will be the main project implementer, but given that this is a new project activity, sub-agreements with local NGOs and FBOs may be used to increase community participation and to increase CT services.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

FPD's activities will be aimed at strengthening the existing healthcare system, promoting closer cooperation between the public sector and civil society institutions, and developing human capacity. It is expected that all activities will offer sustainable and long-term benefits for the South African healthcare system. Another sustainability element comes from a public-private partnership (PPP) with an international NGO, Sole of Africa, who has agreed to donate large numbers of rapid tests to FPD. The project will focus on expanding CT services mainly in the geographical areas around the ART services that FPD supports by:

ACTIVITY 1: Support to the South African Government

At the sites where FPD is supporting treatment activities FPD will increase dedicated staff who will focus on expanding CT services for couples, infants and children and adults, as well as cross-testing (testing STI and TB patients for HIV and vice versa). Dedicated CT nurses and counselors will offer RCT for all patients moving through these healthcare facilities. Standard registers and negotiated performance targets will be used to drive this activity and monitor its implementation.

PEPFAR funds will largely be used for human resources (e.g. nurses and lay counselors). PEPFAR funds will also be utilized for training and to address minor infrastructure needs where necessary for the delivery of CT services at government sites (and NGO & FBO sites). PEPFAR funds will be utilized for the procurement and distribution of HIV test kits if necessary and may also be utilized CD4 count testing where such tests are required to increase access to care.

ACTIVITY 2: Establishment of New VCT Sites

FPD will introduce new civil society based VCT services at easily accessible sites such as private medical practices, private pharmacies, tertiary educational facilities, NGOs and FBOs. Outreach activities will be introduced to create awareness of these services in the larger community with specific emphasis on at risk groups and vulnerable populations. The introduction of new testing sites at NGOs, FBOs, student healthcare services, private practices and private pharmacies will ensure the widespread and sustainable availability of VCT services. Emphasis will be placed on promoting client-friendly rapid testing facilities. The introduction of VCT services in venues that are not perceived as having an HIV or AIDS specific connotation (private pharmacies or private medical practices) will contribute to overcoming stigma induced barriers to accessing VCT due to fears of being seen at an "AIDS facility". Staff will be trained on proper recording and data management.

ACTIVITY 3: Human Capacity Development

FPD will provide training in VCT services for medical practitioners, lay counselors and nurses to ensure strict adherence to VCT protocols and high quality counseling.

This project will place specific emphasis on gender issues. All VCT staff will be trained on: couple counseling; identifying and referring of victims of sexual abuse and violence; and stigma reduction. The program will address gender by creating an ARV related set of services that will increase gender equity through mitigating the burden of care on women. At the time of VCT and other ARV related services women will be identified and -- if they fit the profile -- will be referred to a number of faith-based programs that also support the clinics and VCT sites. These faith-based programs provide women with resources ranging from accommodation, to nutritional support and job creation programs. Male norms and behaviors are addressed in the counseling provided at these facilities and all staff actively work towards reducing violence and coercion by identifying victims of violence. The FBO partners provide a shelter for female victims of violence that are identified through the project activities.

ACTIVITY 4: Linkages and Referrals

The strengthening and expansion of referral networks and linkages with care and treatment services for clients identified as HIV-infected will be a central focus of the project. FPD will link with local CBOs, NGOs, and FBOs to increase demand for VCT services and to help with referral and follow up. All VCT staff will be trained on referrals and linkages. Each VCT site will have a list of local service providers that patients can be referred to. All referrals will be bi-directional and followed up to make sure that clients are accessing the services and providers are providing the services.

PEPFAR Plus up funds will largely be used for human resources (e.g. nurses and lay counselors) in support of CT services. PEPFAR funds will also be utilized for training and to address minor infrastructure needs where necessary for the delivery of CT services at government sites. The government will provide test kits. Funds may also be utilized for CD4 count testing where such tests are required to increase access to care.

FPD will also expand new civil society based VCT services at easily accessible sites such as tertiary educational facilities, NGOs and FBOs. Outreach activities will be introduced to create awareness of these services in the larger community with specific emphasis on at risk groups and vulnerable populations. The introduction of new testing sites at NGOs, FBOs, student healthcare services will ensure the widespread and sustainable availability of VCT services. Emphasis will be placed on promoting client-friendly, provider initiated, rapid testing.

This series of activities will contribute to the PEPFAR goals of 2-7-10 by providing care to many through high quality, appropriate counseling and testing.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY FLAG:

This activity is integrated with Foundation for Professional Development's (FPD) activities under TB/HIV (#7986), Counseling and Testing (#7987), ARV Services (#7593), and Strategic Information (#7594).

SUMMARY:

FPD's treatment activities are focused on building public and private sector capacity to deliver safe, effective and affordable antiretroviral therapy (ART). PEPFAR funds will be used to procure ARVs and other drugs to support the expansion of services in Pretoria (Gauteng province), two facilities in the city and one in a nearby township. Services will be expanded at the Pretoria Inner-City Clinic (PICC), the Tshwane Leadership Foundation and Leratong Hospice. The PICC has been developed by the not-for-profit private sector, where ARVs are provided to inner-city residents who cannot access public sector treatment, in partnership with a number of faith-based organizations (FBOs). The Tshwane Leadership Foundation and the Leratong Hospice will begin providing ART through PEPFAR funding in 2007. For all of the Gauteng Department of Health (GDOH) facilities assisted by FPD other than the PICC, Tshwane Leadership and Leratong Hospice, drugs are provided through the South African Government's (SAG) ART rollout program. The major emphasis area is commodity procurement, but other emphasis areas include human resources, infrastructure, and the development of network/linkages and referral systems support the success of the overall effort. Target populations for the activities include people living with HIV (PLHIV), private healthcare workers, FBOs and refugees. The activities also target PLHIV and most at risk populations. FPD will consider using the Partnership for Supply Chain Management to assist with the procurement of drugs.

BACKGROUND:

The Foundation for Professional Development is a South African Private Institution of Higher Education working exclusively in the health sector in Southern Africa. Previous PEPFAR funding has allowed the training of thousands of healthcare professionals and supported the provision of ART to thousands of PLHIV in South Africa. It provides assistance to over 10 large public sector ART rollout facilities. Although the SAG has a robust ARV rollout program, it is not universally accessible. This project provides ART and related services to vulnerable groups living in the inner-city of Pretoria and in one of the surrounding townships who cannot afford private care and do not have access to public sector care due to factors such as refugee status, long waiting lists, inability to pay minimum public sector user fees, fear of discrimination, and stigma.

Beginning with FY 2006 funding, this project partners FPD in a strategic alliance with the Tshwane Leadership Foundation and the Leratong Hospice who operate clinics that do not yet provide ARVs. Both partners are faith-based organizations (FBOs) that currently provide social welfare services to PLHIV in the city. With FY 2007 funds these clinics will serve as facilities to rapidly initiate and stabilize patients on treatment whose lives are at risk due to waiting lists. Negotiations are currently underway with the GDOH to have these clinics accredited as a down referral site for the major ART clinics at Pretoria Academic Hospital and Kalafong Hospital (both already supported by FPD). Sustainability is partially addressed through the public-private partnership (PPP) with the Tshwane Leadership Foundation. This organization brings together a large number of churches in the city and has access to additional funding sources to support the project.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

Activity 1: Procurement and Distribution of Drugs

The PICC provides an integrated ART service including treatment, palliative care, wellness programs and psychosocial support for adults and children. The site will have a minimum target of 10% of patients who will be children. PEPFAR funds will be used for the procurement and distribution of ARV drugs for the PICC, Tshwane Leadership and the Leratong Hospice, supporting the salaries of necessary doctors, nurses, one pharmacist, social workers, counselors, and two administrative staff. This project has a close working relationship with an FBO consortium that supports the community of the inner-city and it

is envisaged that they will provide palliative care services and psychosocial support. Subject to needs assessments, PEPFAR funds may be used to address minor infrastructure needs.

Technical assistance and systems strengthening will be provided for forecasting drug needs, procurement, storage, and related data systems.

Activity 2: Human Capacity Development

Human capacity development is promoted by requiring all clinical staff at the three sites to attend mandatory training. Training for staff at these sites will include training on supply chain management to ensure proper procurement and related systems. The pharmacist that will supervise dispensing at all three sites will also receive refresher training. As part of the overall FPD program, FPD training ensures a cadre of skilled health care practitioners able to provide care to PLHIV. Healthcare workers are trained in various courses, including clinical management of AIDS and TB, CT, palliative care, adherence and workplace AIDS programs using a proven short course training methodology. PLHIV form part of the faculty to help with stigma reduction (key legislative issue) among participants and to articulate the needs of PLHIV. To maintain knowledge, an alumni program including regular continuing medical education (CME) opportunities, meetings, journals, newsletters and mentorship has been developed. This program provides alumni with membership in a relevant professional association (Southern African HIV Clinicians Society). FPD's public-private partnership (PPP) with Eskom (large power and utility company) and Discovery Health (private health insurance company) also financially support this training. All staff at the three facilities where PEPFAR will be providing funding for drugs will access all of the training opportunities.

Activity 3: Quality Assurance/Supportive Supervision

Quality assurance mechanisms developed through a strategic alliance with JHPIEGO will be expanded to these sites. These quality assurance mechanisms allow clinic staff to rate all aspects of service delivery from drug procurement to patient care against a standardized international benchmark of best practice. This process will lead to continuous improvement of quality and will be rated once a year by an external consultant.

This project will contribute to PEPFAR's 2-7-10 goals by expanding access to ART services for adults and children, by building capacity for ART service delivery including the provision of ARVs, and increasing the demand for and acceptance of ARV treatment.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY FLAG:

This activity is integrated with the Foundation for Professional Development's activities in TB/HIV (#7986), Counseling and Testing (#7987), ARV Drugs (#7985) and Strategic Information (#7594).

SUMMARY:

The Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) program supports the public sector expansion of access to comprehensive HIV and AIDS care by focusing on provision of care, and through human capacity development (HCD). Activities supporting improved and expanded service delivery in public sector ART clinics include the provision of staff, clinical and management training, equipment, technical assistance, mentoring, and refurbishment of facilities. Additional HCD activities include an international volunteer and an intern program. The major emphasis area for these activities is human resources, but several other emphasis areas support the success of the overall effort including training, infrastructure, and the development of network/linkages and referral systems. Target populations for the activities include people living with HIV (PLHIV), public and private healthcare workers, CBOs, FBOs, NGOs. The activities also target PLHIV and most at risk populations.

BACKGROUND:

FPD is a South African Private Institution of Higher Education working exclusively in the health sector in Southern Africa. With FY 2005 funding, FPD supported treatment for thousands of PLHIV and training for thousands of healthcare providers and managers delivering ART and related services. Coordination with provincial Departments of Health (DOH) takes place through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs). FPD provides substantial assistance initially to public sector facilities and works towards a diminished role over time, working towards sustainability at the sites. Sub-agreements are used for training of Pharmacy Assistants by Health Science Academy (FPD is not licensed to train this category of health worker) and for the provision of a patient information system by John Snow Inc. (JSI). Gender issues are embedded in all aspects of the project and include collecting gender specific data in treatment programs, linkages with NGOs working in the gender field, CT services that specifically focus on couple counseling, domestic violence and abuse detection.

Other issues addressed by this project are: 1) Male norms and behaviors that are addressed in the counseling provided at ART sites. All staff actively work towards reducing violence and coercion by identifying victims of violence; 2) stigma and discrimination is addressed in counseling and training programs; and 3) volunteers, including Peace Corps volunteers, will be involved at treatment sites.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: Support to Government ARV clinics

PEPFAR funds are used to respond to requests from provincial DOH to support South African Government (SAG) ART sites through temporarily seconding clinical and administrative staff, providing equipment, refurbishment and technical assistance at an estimated cost per patient of $390. The FPD-supported staff play a critical role in service delivery and have been able to reduce waiting times to less than a week at most facilities. FPD works with each public sector site to determine the number of staff needed, and the timeframe for transferring them into SAG employment. Most sites provide an integrated system of treatment and prevention, including CT and wellness services. These services emphasize adherence and promote ART services among referral clinics (TB, STI & Family Planning). All sites are pediatric treatment sites and a minimum target is set at 10% of patients. FPD's support to SAG ARV clinics will expand substantially to include increased numbers of patients.

ACTIVITY 2: Human Capacity Development (HCD)/Clinical Training

This activity ensures a cadre of skilled healthcare practitioners able to provide care to

PLHIV. Healthcare workers will be trained in various courses (clinical management of AIDS and TB, CT, palliative care, adherence and workplace AIDS programs) using a proven short course training methodology that provides training close to where participants work. PLHIV form part of the faculty to help with stigma reduction (key legislative issue) among participants and to articulate the needs of PLHIV. To update knowledge, an alumni program including regular continuing medical education (CME) opportunities, meetings, journals, newsletters and mentorship has been developed. This program provides alumni with membership in a relevant professional association, the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society. Eskom (large power and utility company) and Discovery Health (large health insurance company) are in a PPP with FPD to financially support this training.

ACTIVITY 3: HCD/Management Training

This activity addresses the severe shortage of skilled managers within the public, NGO and FBO sector to manage rapid scale-up of AIDS care through a one year management training program, offered in association with Yale University, designed to develop local organizational capacity. Students will be enrolled with the SA Institute of Healthcare Managers to provide them access to alumni services. Quality assurance mechanisms for Activities 2 and 3 are those currently prescribed by the Council for Higher Education for SA Universities. Impact studies and participant surveys are also conducted on a regular basis and used to make revisions to the management training program.

ACTIVITY 4: HCD/Internship Program

There is a growing need for rapid expansion of the development of human capacity to support ARV treatment programs. Based on the success of the current pilot internship program that improved the skills of graduate students by partnering them with implementing PEPFAR partners or public sector institutions, FPD will support a formalized HCD Program. FPD is well placed for this activity as training and HCD activities are FPD's core business. The USG PEPFAR Task Force is developing a more robust HCD strategy, and this activity will contribute to that strategy. FPD will coordinate with universities and other institutions to recruit interns and will mentor both the intern and the recipient organization to ensure that interns are optimally utilized to promote treatment initiatives.

ACTIVITY 5: HCD/Placement Project

This activity further expands FPD's role in HCD in the public sector by providing a user-friendly recruitment mechanism that attempts to meet severe shortages of healthcare workers in the public sector by recruiting local and internationally qualified professionals against public sector funded vacancies, on both a remunerated and voluntary basis. Support provided includes matching applicants with vacancies, fast-tracking the registration of international participants and mentoring international recruits. Atlantic Philanthropies, a charitable organization, has funded the startup of this activity in 2006 through a public-private partnership (PPP) with FPD.

ACTIVITY 6: HCD/Call Center/Clinical mentoring support

The call center will provide access for healthcare workers to infectious disease specialists, pediatricians and clinical pharmacologists through a toll-free line for queries related to treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis.

FPD will contribute to the PEPFAR 2-7-10 goals by expanding access to ART services for adults and children, building capacity for ART service delivery, and increasing the demand for and acceptance of ARV treatment.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY FLAG:

This activity is integrated with the Foundation for Professional Development's (FPD) other activities in South Africa, ARV Services (#7593), ARV Drugs (#7985), TB/HIV Care (#7986), and Counseling and Testing (#7987).

SUMMARY:

The FPD program supports the expansion of access to comprehensive HIV and AIDS care by focusing on human capacity development (HCD). The project activity is to develop human capacity in strategic information (SI) at AIDS service organizations by having Masters Degree interns work for a six-month period on the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems of South African PEPFAR partners. The major emphasis area for this activity is monitoring, evaluation and reporting, but several other emphasis areas (including health management information systems and other SI activities) support the success of the overall effort. Target populations for the activities include: community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, NGOs and implementing organizations.

BACKGROUND:

FPD is a South African Private Institution of Higher Education working exclusively in the health sector in Southern Africa. With FY 2005 funding, FPD supported treatment to thousands of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and training for thousands of healthcare providers and managers. This activity, started in FY 2006, supports the more formalized approach to HCD needs in South Africa. The activity was successfully piloted by the University of Pretoria, through MEASURE Evaluation. It will be scaled-up through the FPD given their ability to expand to all universities. FPD, as a nation-wide training institution, is well placed for implementation of this activity as training and other HCD activities are their core business and FPD has well-developed relationships with other academic institutions in the country. These relationships will create a conduit to recruit Masters Degree level interns from a variety of these institutions. FPD also provides training to various PEPFAR partners and other health service institutions. FPD will facilitate the placement of interns with PEPFAR partners who need to strengthen their M&E capacity.

With FY 2007 funding, FPD will support the expansion of access to comprehensive HIV and AIDS care by focusing on human capacity development (HCD). In addition to training and mentoring, this activity will meet the gaps in capacity in a number of South African institutions implementing PEPFAR-funded activities. M&E expertise is often the weakest link for many partners in the implementation of the South African PEPFAR program. Emphasis will be placed on ensuring gender representation in the recruitment of interns.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

Activity 1: Human Capacity Development

The project is aimed at improving the skills of graduate students at Masters Degree level who have a specialization or interest in SI by partnering them with implementing PEPFAR partners or other related AIDS service organizations. The interns who will provide M&E and SI assistance and support to these organizations will be recruited from South African Universities that specialize in SI-related qualifications. Both the interns and the organizations will be technically supported by FPD, university and USG M&E staff. In addition, an effort will be made to design projects that are of interest to the intern, so both the organization and the intern will benefit.

Activity 2: Local organization capacity development

The project further supports the ability of such organizations to engage in SI activities by providing them with an intern with specialized knowledge in SI related disciplines. The aim of the internship is not just to do reports for the organization, but to build M&E systems. It is required that the organization accepting the intern has a full-time M&E Officer, so the systems built during the internship are sustainable.

Funding will be utilized to appoint a dedicated project manager, pay stipends and transport costs for interns and to allow FPD to coordinate with various universities and recipient organizations with regard to recruitment, placement and evaluation of the program. The sustainability component of this project revolves around the premise that some of the recipient organizations will recruit the interns at the end of their placement period. It is also expected that interns will have effected a substantial improvement in the strategic information capacity of the recipient organization during their placement and that this improvement will be maintained after their departure.

FPD will contribute to the PEPFAR 2-7-10 goals by developing the capacity of organizations to expand access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) services for adults and children, building capacity for monitoring ART service delivery.