Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Details for Mechanism ID: 5105
Country/Region: Vietnam
Year: 2007
Main Partner: U.S. Agency for International Development
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Own Agency
Funding Agency: USAID
Total Funding: $3,238,587

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Abstinence/Be Faithful (HVAB): $141,871

This activity is linked to HVAB FHI (9480), HVAB Pact (9482), HVAB Save US (9483), and HVAB Pact (9494).

Funding will be provided to cover 10% of three LES (Prevention Specialists) and two USPSCs (Senior Prevention Advisor and Drug/Rehabilitation Advisor) focusing on MARPS and youth, including salary, benefits and official travel costs.

These staff will provide technical assistance and oversight to AB programs implemented by PEPFAR partners, including local and international NGOs, Government of Vietnam (GVN) organizations and UN agencies. Funding will be provided to ensure that AB messages are well-incorporated in all ABC BCC interventions.

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Other Sexual Prevention (HVOP): $450,000

This activity is linked to HVOP TBD-PSI Follow-on (9598), HVOP FHI (10207), HVOP MOH (9627), and HVOP HCMC-PAC (9625).

Condom procurement is an essential component of the PEPFAR comprehensive ABC approach to HIV prevention programs. In FY07 PEPFAR will procure 12 million condoms for community-based outreach and distribution to PEPFAR and other donor programs, in addition to targeted social marketing to traditional and non-traditional outlets.

In FY07 PEPFAR will ensure continued access to commodities for at-risk populations through outreach and social marketing efforts in the geographical areas where the epidemic is most severe. In conjunction with social marketing partner TBD-PSI follow-on, PEPFAR will implement a two-tiered strategy. In the first tier, branded Number One condoms will be distributed by outreach partners including MOH/VAAC, TBD-PSI follow-on, FHI, HCMC-PAC and Pact sub-partners. A small number of female condoms will be promoted to sex workers and MSM, ensuring equitable access to gender-appropriate prevention services. In the second tier, TBD-PSI follow-on will develop a targeted social marketing system to increase availability of and access to condoms at non-traditional outlets such as karaoke bars, drinking establishments and other locations where commercial sex is likely to be procured or transacted. This strategy will be developed in close cooperation with other major condom donors and marketers such as the Department for International Development, German development organization KfW, and DKT to maximize collaboration to increase coverage and reduce overlap.

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Other Sexual Prevention (HVOP): $310,000

This activity is linked to HVOP CDC (9596) and HVAB USAID (9493).

Requested funding will be provided for 70% of an existing LES (Prevention Advisor), 75% of a new LES (Prevention Specialist), 60 % of an existing USPSC (Drug Rehabilitation and Prevention Advisor) and 65% of a new USPSC (Prevention Specialist), including salary, benefits and official travel costs.

These staff will provide technical assistance to 10 international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in close collaboration with other USG agencies and Government Agencies including MOH/VAAC, the Ho Chi Minh City Provincial AIDS Committee (HCMC-PAC) and other partners and under the leadership of the USG BCC coordinator. This includes coordinating with USG partners, VAAC, HCMC-PAC on all activities related to program design, implementation and evaluation of prevention interventions targeting most at-risk populations (MARPs) including injecting drug users (IDU) and commercial sex workers (CSW).

Funding for Care: Adult Care and Support (HBHC): $205,040

Funds requested will support 65% of an LES (Care and Treatment Specialist) and 55% of a USPSC (Care and Treatment Advisor) including salary, benefits and official travel costs.

As part of the PEPFAR Care and Treatment Team, these staff will provide technical assistance (TA) and program oversight to GVN, FHI, Global Fund (GF) and USG partners providing palliative care in program design, implementation and evaluation of care activities related to care and the development of training curricula and delivery of training for community members working in HIV Care activities.

Funding for Care: Orphans and Vulnerable Children (HKID): $100,000

Funds requested will support 45% of a USPSC (Care and Treatment Advisor), including salary, benefits and official travel costs.

As part of the PEPFAR Care and Treatment Team, this individual will provide technical assistance (TA) and program oversight in program design; implementation and evaluation of OVC related activities across all USG agencies to support the implementation of the PEPFAR OVC strategy and program plan. This will include implementing core OVC service packages for different partners and service delivery models; providing and brokering technical assistance and support to ensure quality and continuous program improvement.

Funding for Testing: HIV Testing and Counseling (HVCT): $25,000

Funds requested will support 10% of a USPSC (Prevention Advisor) including salary, benefits and official travel costs.

As members of the PEPFAR technical working group on Counseling and Testing, this staff will provide technical assistance (TA) and programmatic oversight to MOH/VAAC and HCMC-PAC in the design, implementation and evaluation of CT activities as well as development of training curricula and training of counselors and supervisors.

Funding for Treatment: Adult Treatment (HTXS): $20,423

Funds requested will support 35% of a LES (Care and Treatment Specialist) including salary, benefits and official travel costs.

As part of the PEPFAR Care and Treatment Team, these staff will work in collaboration with HHS/CDC to provide technical assistance (TA) and program oversight on all activities related to design, implementation and evaluation of ARV Services for HIV infected individuals with primary focus on adherence and linkages to home and community based services. TA will be coordinated with all USG partners to maximize impact and efficiency the PEPFAR treatment program across agencies.

Funding for Strategic Information (HVSI): $190,910

Funds requested will support two LES (Sr. SI Advisor, Program Officer), including salary, benefits and official travel costs.

USAID staff, as part of the interagency PEPFAR SI team will provide technical assistance (TA) and program oversight to GVN Agencies including MOH, HCMC PAC, NIHE and HSPH and other USG partners in the area of strategic information to strengthen partners' capacity for collecting and analyzing data for program implementation, monitoring, evaluation and planning.

Funding for Health Systems Strengthening (OHSS): $165,467

This activity is linked to HVOP USAID (9597) and HVAP USAID (9493).

Funds requested will support 35% of an LES (Program Management Specialist), 55% of LES (Health Liaison Officer) and 50% of a USPSC (Health Program Manager), including salary, benefits and official travel costs.

These staff will provide technical assistance (TA) and program oversight to 12 international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in close collaboration with other USG agencies and GVN Agencies including MOH/VAAC, the HCMC-PAC and other partners to maximize impact on all activities related to program design, implementation and evaluation of HIV/AIDS policy and system strengthening efforts.

Funding for Management and Operations (HVMS): $1,334,876

Funds requested will support overall program management and oversight at USAID, including operations, management, procurement, and coordination. As the Regional Development Mission/Asia (RDM/A) reduces support to Vietnam from Bangkok, Thailand, the Vietnam PEPFAR program will need to increase staffing to account for additional management responsibility. Additionally this budget also includes 5 interagency positions that are hired through AID procurement mechanisms. Funds will also be used to hire additional new positions added to the USAID Vietnam team that were not included in the FY06 COP. A complete list of AID positions supported in this program area follow:

Existing Positions: Country Manager (USPSC) 25% HIV/AIDS Program Manager (USPSC) 50% Program Management Specialist (LES) 70% Health Liaison Officer (LES) 40% Secretary (LES) 100% IT (LES) 100% PEPFAR Coordinator (USPSC) 100% PEPFAR Secretary (LES) 100%

New Management/Support Positions funded by M&S funding Population Health and Nutrition (PHN) Officer (USDH) 100% Contracts Specialist (LES) 100% Program Management Assistant (LES) 100% PEPFAR Program Officer (Fellow) 100% PEPFAR Program Management Specialist (LES) 100% PEPFAR Program Interpreter (LES) 100%

The support for 6 new management/support positions is requested in FY07 to better support the management and administrative requirements of the increased funding and number of partners. Their roles, responsibilities and justifications for the positions are outlined below:

PHN Officer (USDH), USAID/Vietnam office. The USDH PHN Officer will provide overall guidance for the HIV/AIDS and Health portfolio in Vietnam, working in conjunction with the HIV/AIDS Program Manager. For the last two years, PEPFAR/USAID programs have been managed by a USPSC Program Manager. Since 2004, the USAID management burden has grown from 3 organizations to nearly 40 proposed for 2007, and the portfolio has grown from $3.5 million to over $35 million proposed for 2007. The size and high profile of the portfolio, and the number of partners necessitate a sufficiently staffed management team that can spend time focusing on program management rather than technical oversight of interventions.

Contracts Specialist (LES), USAID/Vietnam office. Currently there is no contracts officer in Vietnam, and contracting and negotiation services are provided by RDM/A. In anticipation of a growing portfolio, RDM/A has recommended the placement of a Contracts Specialist in Vietnam to assist with contracting, negotiation and procurement for USAID grantees under PEPFAR. An "on the ground" Contracts Specialist will reduce costly TDYs from RDM/A. The specialist serves as the principal advisor for a broad range of USAID acquisition activities to include complex procurement actions and administration and more generally modification, delivery and purchase order and related procurement actions.

Program Management Assistant (LES), USAID/Vietnam office. The Program Management Assistant will aid the HIV/AIDS Program Manager, the Program Management Specialist and the USAID/VN and RDM/A Program Offices to track USAID grantee expenditures, to respond to program-related requests, to assist the Contracts Specialist with procurements, and to maintain the USAID program database. PEPFAR support for Vietnam in 2007 will expand USAID partnerships to nearly 40 (funding in 2006 was $22 million and is projected to increase to over $35 million in 2007). This growth will require an additional staff member to share grant tracking responsibilities with the Program Management Specialist, by whom he/she will be supervised.

Program Officer (USPSC), Vietnam PEPFAR Coordination Office. This position will work closely with the PEPFAR Coordinator, providing technical leadership and support to the

Vietnam PEPFAR Coordination Office. This position will assume many of the tasks previously performed by the PEPFAR Liaison Officer, the newly hired PEPFAR Program Officer playing a broader role in working with the larger donor community in Vietnam. Specifically, the PEPFAR Program Officer will provide coordination support for cross cutting tasks and responsibilities (e.g. gender-related issues and '06 support activities). As coordination system and practices are developed, this position will be converted from an international hire (potentially an MPH Fellow) to a locally employed technical officer.

Program Management Specialist (LES), Vietnam PEPFAR Coordination Office. This is a second key position to support the Vietnam PEPFAR Coordination office. This position will provide PEPFAR budget management, administrative and logistical services for the Vietnam PEPFAR Coordination Office, co-located at USAID in Hanoi.

PEPFAR Program Interpreter (LES), Vietnam PEPFAR Coordination Office. Over the years, and particularly since the scale up of PEPFAR Vietnam it has become clear that high quality, technically accurate medical and programmatic translation services (English - Vietnamese - English) at important meetings, workshops, training programs, etc. with partners and counterparts is critically needed. The technical nature of PEPFAR program activities, including the frequent use of medical/scientific terminology makes translation services vital to the success of the program. It has been PEPFAR Vietnam's experience that the specific translation skills needed for the expanding program (especially for simultaneous translation) at meetings cannot be provided by local contractors often resulting in time lost and misunderstanding/misinterpretation of policy and program direction.

Table 3.3.15:

Funding for Management and Operations (HVMS): $165,000

In FY 06 ICASS portion allotted to PEPFAR/USAID team was $105,350. As a result of expanded procurement and space requirements in FY 07, the amount of funds to support ICASS is estimated at $165,000. This will support existing and new positions including 1 US Direct Hire, 5 USPSCs and 13 LES.

Table 3.3.15:

Funding for Management and Operations (HVMS): $130,000

In FY 06 IRM portion allotted to PEPFAR/USAID team was $61,000. This proportion in FY 07 is expected to increase to $130,000 to cover the IT management costs associated with supporting existing and new positions including 1 US Direct Hire, 5 USPSCs and 13 LES. The IRM costs are calculated at a rate of $5,800 per FTE or proportion thereof.

Table 3.3.15: