Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2008 2009

Details for Mechanism ID: 1409
Country/Region: Zambia
Year: 2008
Main Partner: Pact, Inc.
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Private Contractor
Funding Agency: USAID
Total Funding: $1,780,242

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Abstinence/Be Faithful (HVAB): $1,780,242

This is a Track 1.0 multi-country Abstinence Behavior Change for Youth (ABY) activity that links with other

US Government (USG) ABY partners, including International Youth Foundation/ Empowering Africa's

Young People Initiative, Health Communication Partnership (HCP) , and CHANGES2. This activity

supports both the Zambia National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Strategic Framework (ZASF) and the PEPFAR goals

of abstinence and behavior change for youth as a means of preventing the transmission and spread of HIV.

The focus of the Y-Choices HIV/AIDS prevention program is to promote abstinence and being faithful

among in-school and out-of-school young people aged 10-24 mainly through peer education. The program

is implemented through sub-grantees including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based

organizations (CBOs), and faith-based organizations (FBOs). FY 2008 funds will be used to provide ABY

sub-grants to 15 sub-grantees, 5 of which will be new organizations in new districts. Currently, Y-Choices

and its sub-partners are working in five rural provinces: Central, Luapula, North-Western, Southern, and

Western (in 12 districts). In FY 2008, Y-Choices will expand to 5 additional districts: Kabompo, Sesheke,

Zambezi, Kapiriposhi, and Nchelenge (covering 38 total districts).

Utilizing the networking approach to HIV/AIDS programming, ABY partners will collaborate with other

stakeholders in the field to ensure quality services for youth and to avoid duplication of similar activities.

Referrals will be encouraged to ensure that sexually active young people who require counseling and

testing (CT) and condom services are referred to partner organizations providing these services within the

coverage area.

Y-Choices Abstinence and Be faithful for Youth (ABY) activities are conducted mostly through schools and

community Anti-AIDS clubs at district/community level, and are guided by the schools' matrons and patrons

who are themselves trained as adult mentors. ABY sites are identified through a consultative process with

district local leadership and stakeholders such as District AIDS Task Forces, District Education Boards, and

District Health structures. In FY 2007, the program had 11 sub-grantees and by mid-year had reached

approximately 49,000 youth with AB messages and 26,125 youth with Abstinence-only messages. More

than 536 persons were trained to reach out to the youth along with their guardians/parents with AB

messages in 171 sites. In FY 2008, Y-Choices will implement ABY activities in 300 new sites. Each of the

15 sub-grantees will cover 10 schools and 10 surrounding communities. A total of 2,000 peer educators

and 1,000 adult mentors will also be trained in these sites. Roughly 100,000 youth will be reached with AB

messages and 60,000 youth with abstinence-only messages. Approximately 60% of the total youth reached

will be girls.

In FY 2008, the major thrust of the program is to support peer-to-peer education and child mentoring

outreach by peer educators and adult mentors. The peer educators will provide age appropriate AB

messages to fellow peers through outreach activities. The adult mentors, including parents and teachers,

will provide guidance to peer educators in their planning and implementation of peer education activities,

and promote parent/adult/child dialogue. Dialogue on sexuality issues will be encouraged, and messages

on abstinence and fidelity as key HIV preventive measures among youth. Both peer and adult educators

will be trained in effective AB messaging and community mobilization.

The sub-grantees carry out daily program management and provide technical support to community

activities through trained peer educators, adult mentors, and program staff, including monitoring and

evaluation officers. The sub-grantees often exchange experiences, strategies, materials, and approaches

to AB messaging. PACT also trains sub-grantees in program and grants management, reporting, and

monitoring and evaluation. In FY2007 some sub-grantees received funding from other agencies, such as

the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Zambia National AIDS Network (ZNAN) and the

National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council (NAC). This was attributed to the strengthened program and financial

management capacities, attained through the institutional capacity building provided by PACT Zambia.

To ensure program sustainability, Y-Choices will continue to build the capacities and skills of sub-partner

organizations in grants and program management, including: the development of workplans, proposal

narratives, organizational strategic plans, community mobilization and advocacy strategies, and financial

management. Sub-partners will also build their capacity for program implementation, monitoring and

evaluation, and AB message development and dissemination.

Sub-grantees will encourage traditional, religious, and civic leadership to participate in community

mobilization and program activities. Y-Choices' partner organizations will ensure linkages and synergy of

their ABY activities to existing government structures, such as the Provincial AIDS Task Forces, and the

Neighborhood Health Committees. Y-Choices will also continue its membership on the formed Prevention

of Sexual Transmission working group supported by the NAC. To enhance coordination, standardization,

and learning, Y-Choices will be in constant communication with other USAID-supported ABY partners,

through the USG AB partner working group.

Gender will be a focus for partners in the implementation of this activity. The messaging, program

evaluation, and reporting will incorporate gender issues, as HIV/AIDS affects boys and girls differently. The

communication strategy will ensure that these HIV related issues for boys and girls (such as multiple sexual

partners, sexual abuse and violence, male norms, and transactional sex) are adequately addressed. Peer

education and mentoring outreach will be complemented by AB messaging through folk media and radio

programming in provinces with community radio stations. Y-Choices will encourage its sub-grantees to

adapt any existing and approved AB radio programs developed by other partners, such as Population

Services International/Society for Family Health and Health Communication Partnership. Additionally, sub-

partners will develop specific programs to fill missing gaps. To standardize the AB messages reaching

youth and maintain positive behavior, Y-Choices sub-grantees will continue using approved and available

information, education, and communication materials that have been developed and approved by the NAC.

Pact Zambia's Y-Choices will conduct monthly field compliance visits to the sub-grantees for program and

financial backstopping. The program will also continue tracking results from each sub-grantee through the

reporting template submitted monthly. The template helps in tracking key program data as well as

challenges and success stories. Y-Choices plans to conduct the final program evaluation by July 2009.

All FY 2008 targets will be reached by September 30, 2009.

Subpartners Total: $450,000
Zambia Interfaith Networking Group on HIV and AIDS: $30,000
Kawambwa Anti AIDS Club: $10,000
Maveve Orphans and Home Based Care: $30,000
Henwood Foundation: $10,000
Choma Youth Development Organization: $30,000
Seventh Day Adventist Church: $10,000
Kays Arts Promotion: $10,000
Luapula Families In Distress: $30,000
Zambezi Development Trust: $30,000
Kabwe Home Based Care: $10,000
Kilela Balanda: $30,000
Mumena Rural Development Trust: $30,000
Adolescent Reproductive Health Advocates: $30,000
United Church of Zambia: $10,000
Anti-AIDS Teachers Association of Zambia: $30,000
Mwandi Mission Hospital: $30,000
Youth Alive Zambia: $30,000
Nchelenge Interfaith Sharing & Learning Initiative Group: $30,000
Young Women's Christian Association: $30,000