Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Details for Mechanism ID: 13582
Country/Region: Ukraine
Year: 2013
Main Partner: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Multi-lateral Agency
Funding Agency: USAID
Total Funding: $1,200,000

The overarching goal of the PLEDGE project is to build support among Ukrainian law enforcement officials and other key GOU stakeholders at the national and decentralized levels for HIV/AIDS and drug dependency Tx services. This activity targets MARPs and includes service delivery within pre-, in-, and post- prison detention settings. This will be achieved through the following 3 project objectives: create an environment supportive of evidence-informed and human rights-based HIV/AIDS and drug dependence Tx programs among MARPs; strengthen capacities of the State Penitentiary Service, public health and social services workers and civil society organizations to provide evidence-informed and human rights-based comprehensive HIV prevention, Tx and care services including drug dependence Tx in prison settings; and improve capacity of substance abuse Tx system (narcological services) to provide evidence-informed and human-rights based integrated HIV prevention and drug dependence Tx services.

The project will be implemented at the national and sub-national levels. The project dissemination strategy envisages covering 27 regions of Ukraine by the end of the project.

The project contributes directly to Ukraines partnership framework goals #1 and #3, and adds value to existing and forthcoming HIV/AIDS initiatives, including those under the Global Fund and USG. To ensure long-term sustainability of systemic changes the project will support national training institutions by updating specific training modules and curricula in order to incorporate internationally available best knowledge and expertise. The project will establish strong M&E and analysis components to ensure that program interventions are effective. USG/Ukraine will conduct mid-term and final evaluations.

Funding for Health Systems Strengthening (OHSS): $200,000

The PLEDGE projects aims to improve the availability, coverage and quality of HIV services for IDU while in detention, serving terms in prison, and in post-release settings. A prerequisite for increased service accessibility is the improved technical capacities of a vast body of policy- and decision-makers and service providers in human rights-based and gender-sensitive programming and planning, management, and M&E. The project will be implemented at national and sub-national (oblast) levels. Updated national strategies and policy frameworks will be applied and tested in at least 2 target regions (oblasts) that will be selected in close consultation with the national partners. A project dissemination strategy envisages expanding the project activities to 8 more regions annually starting from 3rd year of the project life, thus covering 27 regions of Ukraine by the end of the project.

The project will increase awareness and knowledge of key GOU stakeholders, including law enforcement and drug control agencies, on the importance of accessible comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support programs for people who use drugs. Activities include conducting national- and decentralized-level advocacy among senior government officials, policy and decision makers and other officials from the prison management authorities.

Ukraine lacks a national research, policies, and protocols on the delivery of evidence-informed and human rights-based comprehensive package of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services, including drug dependence treatment, for pre-, in-, and post- detention settings. Activities include a small grants program to provide Ukrainian researchers with awards to support multi-year research studies on the implementation of integrated HIV/AIDS and narcology services in Ukraine, MAT and harm reduction services. The project will facilitate the dissemination of these studies to professional fora, including TWGs, to inform policy, standards, and protocol formation.

Funding for Prevention: Injecting and Non-Injecting Drug Use (IDUP): $1,000,000

According to national estimates, Ukraine has some 360,000 people who inject drugs. This represents an overall IDU prevalence of 1% of the total population over the age of 15. Approximately 130,000140,000 people are incarcerated at any given time in Ukraine and according to the national statistics, HIV prevalence among prisoners in 2009 was 15% (32% in women and 12% men). A high proportion of prisoners have a history of drug use (56%) and injecting drug use (35%).

The program will work with GOU stakeholders, including the MOH, law enforcement and drug control agencies, to strengthen support for accessible comprehensive HIV/AIDS and drug dependence services, including MAT, for people who use drugs. The project will be rolled out to all 27 regions. Activities include national and decentralized advocacy for senior government officials, policy and decision makers and other officials from law enforcement and drug control authorities, and the formation of TWGs to address strategic and rights-based HIV/AIDS policy frameworks and plans for persons in pre-, in-, and post-detention settings.

Other activities include the development of HIV/AIDS and drugs-related training curricula and technical assistance to mainstream HIV/AIDS and drug dependence services, including MAT, into detention settings.This includes the development of a comprehensive and integrated service provision system at local level with effective referral and case management mechanisms to ensure continuum of care for people who use drugs. The project will pilot and test comprehensive HIV/TB and drug dependency treatment programs in selected detention facilities with services that include communications, HCT, condoms, drug dependence treatment including MAT, bleach and disinfection programmes, ART, TB and STI diagnosis and treatment, hepatitis B and C treatment and care, and PMTCT. The project will design and roll out referral and notification systems to link HIV-infected individuals to positive prevention services post-release.

The project will work through service provision systems, management, and providers to ensure appropriate monitoring, evaluation and documentation of the lessons learned, and results. The project will collaborate with the GOU and Global fund to disseminate integrated HIV/AIDS/drug dependence service delivery models to other facilities.

Cross Cutting Budget Categories and Known Amounts Total: $300,000
Human Resources for Health $300,000
Key Issues Identified in Mechanism
Implement activities to change harmful gender norms & promote positive gender norms
Increase gender equity in HIV prevention, care, treatment and support
Mobile Populations
Tuberculosis