PSP Zimbabwe Partnership Project

Principle Activities

The project focuses on two major priority areas:

• Improving the breadth and depth of Zimbabweans’ knowledge about HIV/AIDS and support of related actions and activities to promote behaviors that prevent its spread and mitigate its impact;
• Provide support to dramatically scale-up HIV testing and counseling in order to increase the number of Zimbabweans who know their HIV status and enable them to take appropriate actions, ranging from personal risk reduction to Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)

Progress to Date

To support these priority areas, the project’s principle activities include the development and implementation of a broad-based communications portfolio focusing on behavior change messages, and the marketing of specific HIV/AIDS products and services. The project also provides support for the MOHCW’s transition to a provider-initiated approach in HIV testing and counseling services, and to identify individuals eligible to receive a comprehensive HIV and AIDS package of prevention, care, and treatment services. In addition, the project supports the continued development of post-test HIV service delivery, and provides technical assistance and leadership in the design and implementation of strategies for the integration of Family Planning services within PMTCP and other HIV services. The Partnership Fund will be central to the work of the project entering the second year of implementation as sole source and competitive grants are being awarded to local Zimbabwean organizations who will ultimately implement the major technical components of the PSP Zimbabwe Partnership Project.

Zimbabwe Partnership Project Activity Updates

Local Partner Capacity Building

As part of its mandate, the Partnership Project provides capacity building assistance to grant recipient partners implementing New Life (post HIV test services), New Start (voluntary testing and counseling), Communications (BCC), and other program activities. The goal of this capacity building support is to localize technical capacity to implement activities by strengthening organizational sustainability. Expectations for grant partners to achieve organizational sustainability continue to be conditioned by the challenging economic landscape and labor market realities of Zimbabwe. The rising hyperinflation and economic destabilization mean that partners face very high costs in providing services and have little potential to recuperate costs. Sustainability of partner sites will be demonstrated by whether organizations identify new efficiencies, leverage partnerships and in-kind contributions, develop effective fund-raising strategies and diversify support from other donors.

The project’s capacity building assistance directly reinforces service delivery as provided by grant partners, while allowing partners to strengthen their overall institutional capacity. The Partnership Project uses a multi-pronged and flexible approach to respond to the capacity building needs of partners.

In August, 2007, the project successfully implemented the Building on Strengths workshop, providing training to 18 grant recipient partners in organizational development, finance and management training, and strategic planning. As part of this workshop, the project supported the development of individualized organizational development plans for each partner. Feedback to the workshop was very positive.

In December, 2008, a follow-on management skills training program was conducted for 31 site managers drawn from 20 New Start and 12 New Life sites across the country. The course addressed managerial skills, knowledge and attitudinal needs among the managers and helped site managers to appreciate the core principles and practices of effective management and leadership. It broadly covered the following major themes:

• Management and its context
• Managerial effectiveness
• Managerial role and responsibilities
• Leadership responsibilities
• Communication techniques for managers
• Coordination and interpersonal skills/team work

Similar courses for other Partnership Fund grantees are planned.

On March 7th, the project hosted an “open forum on the coordination of capacity building,” which involved participants representing local and international organizations involved in capacity building efforts. The intention was to stimulate discussion and coordination on capacity building efforts to share lessons learned, tools, and reduce duplication of efforts. The forum was enthusiastically attended and stimulated lively discussions. The project has been given the mandate (by the group) to move forward with this process and the meeting has greatly enhanced Partnership Project’s visibility as both a role player in the HIV/AIDS community and also in terms of facilitating linkage and integration.

In February, 2008, the Partnership Project, with the support of PSP-One technical staff, completed the development of the Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Conceptual Framework and Communication Strategy Outline. This important document was commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (MoHCW) to:

• Provide stakeholders with an initial framework for brainstorming priority areas for the HIV and AIDS communication strategy, and
• Provide overall guidance to the development of thematic and integrated HIV and AIDS messages and materials

The framework and strategy outline were developed through an extensive stakeholder consultation process and were informed by over 60 documents including research studies, program descriptions and communication materials. The result is a comprehensive document that includes a detailed situation analysis and a set of recommendations as they relate to HIV and AIDS communication issues. A schematic is included which depicts the suggested conceptual framework for HIV and AIDS communication in Zimbabwe with the goal of guiding national level thinking and dialogue. Supporting the framework is a proposed national level umbrella communication effort and communication outline highlighting synergies between the four thematic areas: 1) Prevention and Behavior Change, 2) Testing and Counseling (T&C), 3) PMTCT/FP, and 4) Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).

To support the implementation of these strategies, the document also includes process recommendations to finalize the document and reach clarity on how to manage, budget, monitor, evaluate and schedule the appropriate next steps. Once the framework and strategy outline are reviewed and finalized by the relevant stakeholders, they hopefully will serve as a holistic guidance tool to facilitate continued progress in communication efforts to respond to HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe.

To promote a comprehensive response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic in Zimbabwe, the Partnership Project actively engages with key partners and stakeholders throughout implementation of program activities. The Partnership Fund grant mechanism supports the development of strong, cost-effective partnerships with local Zimbabwean organizations as important partners and implementers of Partnership Project activities. Through the Partnership Fund, the project works directly with local organizations from Zimbabwean not-for-profit and for-profit sectors and ensures that they play a major role in the implementation of planned activities and achievement of programmatic results. The project makes efforts to identify and support organizations in remote and ‘harder to reach’ areas of the country, to ensure coverage of activities and support for local organizations working in these important locations.

Despite an operating environment extremely challenging to grant management and implementation, the Partnership Fund has awarded a number of grants to local partners who are taking an active role in program implementation.

New Start is a network of branded Voluntary HIV Testing and Counseling centers developed by project partner PSI. As the project has localized program activities, a number of local organizations have been given responsibility for direct management and implementation of New Start centers, providing VCT services through static sites as well as outreach programs. Grants are currently in place with 5 local partners (Batsirayi Group, FACT Chiredzi, FACT Mutare, and Lubancho House) operating New Start activities throughout the country.

New Life is a network of branded post-HIV test service sites, dedicated to providing ongoing counseling support, information, and referrals for HIV-positive clients. The project currently has a grant agreement in with partner Tsungirirai for management and operation of a key New Life center.

Safe from Harm is an interpersonal communications program focusing on promoting parent-child communication to help address factors leading to early sexual activity among youth. The program is designed to increase awareness, knowledge and ability among youth to confront pressures, including social, economic, and peer pressures. The program is conducted in collaboration with FBOs. The project currently has grant agreements with 3 local partners (DACHICARE, Christian Development Association, and Evangelical Federation of Zimbabwe) to implement the Safe from Harm program through their networks across the country.

Mr. Smart is an interpersonal communications (IPC) initiative designed to promote correct and consistent condom use among high risk population groups. Activities within the Mr. Smart initiative are designed to address issues related to condom efficacy i.e. perceived effectiveness of the product and self efficacy i.e. ability to correctly use and negotiate product among sexually active men and women. Mr. Smart activities are conducted in high risk areas for HIV (growth points, border regions, mining areas, resettlement farms etc.). The project currently has grant agreements with 2 local partners (International Video Fair and the Road Show Company) to implement the Mr. Smart program.

The project has also developed the framework for a new interpersonal communications (IPC) community outreach program called Step Up which addresses high risk behaviors (cross-generational sex and concurrency) among youth in tertiary colleges and vocational schools. The program is finalizing grant agreements with several local partners to implement this program.

The project began in October 2005, and is now in its third year of implementation, successfully meeting the technical targets established by USAID, despite a continually challenging operating environment.

Client: USAID
Duration: 2005-2010
Funding: $35 million

Contract Team:
Abt Associates, Inc.;
Populations Services International;
Family Health International;
Banyan Global

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