Strengthening Regional, National, and Subnational Institutional Capacities to Sustainably Combat HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) - Sustainable, equitable, resilient, country-led health systems are critical to achieve and maintain HIV epidemic control and address emerging public health threats. In collaboration with local partners, ICAP will leverage its distinguished record of technical assistance, capacity building, and implementation support, our global presence, and our expertise in PEPFAR financial and operational management to strengthen local capabilities and health systems. The purpose of this project is to provide direct support to strengthen the technical, financial, and management capabilities of local health organizations in PEPFAR-supported countries. It will also strengthen local government partner management of HIV programs and ensure that strategic and sustained community leadership (including by women, youth, and key populations (KP)) is embedded in all aspects of PEPFAR. Strategies include developing and implementing partnership-building to improve health equity and reduce prevention and treatment gaps for priority populations (PP) including adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), children, youth, and KP; strengthening host country capacity to implement policies and programs to ensure sustainable HIV epidemic control and robust health systems; building and strengthening financial and administrative capacity of local organizations to lead sustainable HIV and related developmental assistance programs; and building and strengthening project management capacity to develop, implement, and evaluate HIV programs. Expected short-term outcomes include improved access to and retention in services through scale-up of social behavioral interventions for AGYW, children, youth, and KP; increased and sustained engagement of community partners including women, youth, and KP-led organizations; improved health system efficiency and capacity of health care workers to deliver and manage quality TB/HIV services; reduced risk, duration, and effects of new infections among AGYW, children, youth, and KP; and increased local organization expertise in program, administrative, and financial reporting to promote sustainable oversight. Intermediate outcomes will include expanded and sustained strategic community leadership and engagement from PP and KP in all elements of PEPFAR programs; improved quality of and client satisfaction with AGYW, child, youth, and KP services; increased ongoing quality improvement for effective, integrated interventions; increased capacity of private, public, and multi-sector partners to expand their reach; increased local health capacity and governance through leadership to implement equitable policy, guidelines, structures, and programs for people living with HIV; increased local program ownership to effectively plan, implement, manage, and sustain HIV and health grants; and reduced structural/policy barriers and discriminatory practices that limit access to services for PP and KP. Long-term outcomes will include increased health service delivery and sensitivity to provide equitable, integrated, and coordinated quality care across all populations; improved organizational, financial, and programmatic sustainability to withstand changes and challenges without affecting the national public health structure or provision of services; increased national and local autonomy to communicate, guide, and oversee health systems to effectively manage and provide leadership without affecting national public health structure; and improved utilization of PEPFAR platforms for broader surveillance and public health programming for detection and assessment of global health threats.
