Challenge TB - Malawi Year 1 Annual Report

The project is led by KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, with a total budget of USD $1,805,370 allocated for FY 2014. The CTB Malawi Year 1 work plan was approved in April 2015. Initial efforts focused on setting up the in-country CTB office, recruiting technical and operations staff, and registering KNCV as an International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) in Malawi. KNCV contracted a local law firm to facilitate the registration process, and an interim project manager was assigned to travel to Malawi to look for suitable office space. Office space was identified in Lilongwe, and KNCV occupies two rooms at the Community Health Science Unit (CHSU), which enables it to work closely with the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP). Recruitment of key technical and administrative staff was also a priority, with a total of 533 applications received for 11 positions advertised. During a visit to Malawi in August 2015, 37 candidates were invited for interviews, and 10 were selected, including the Country Director. The full complement of country team staff has now been hired, including the Country Director, Technical Coordinator, Adviser Diagnostic Network, PSM and M&E Advisers, and one Zonal TB Adviser. Work planning for CTB Malawi Year 2 began in August 2015, with the KNCV Technical Focal Point, Project Officer, and Interim Technical Consultant traveling to Malawi to start the process. The work plan incorporates Year 1 and Year 2 activities, with a focus on implementing the project in Year 2. The project team will conduct an introductory meeting/team building for all in-country technical and support staff in December, and will carry out more detailed work planning for APA2. The Challenge TB project in Malawi has also supported a number of priority Short Term Technical Assistance (STTA) missions, including assessments in PMDT, surveillance and data management, and TB infection control. The findings and recommendations from these missions were used to readjust the APA2 workplan. The project has also supported the registration of KNCV as an INGO in Malawi, and has prepared a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Health (MOH). The project has made significant progress in setting up the in-country office, recruiting staff, and preparing for the implementation of the project in Year 2. The full complement of country team staff has been hired, and work planning for CTB Malawi Year 2 is underway. The project team will continue to work closely with the NTP and other stakeholders to implement the project and achieve its objectives. The project has also supported the development of the budgets and work plans for the TB interventions captured in the Global Fund (GF) grant preparations. The MOH together with the second Principal Recipient (PR) [Action Aid] focused on developing the budgets and work plans for the TB interventions. The project team will continue to work closely with the NTP and other stakeholders to implement the project and achieve its objectives. The Challenge TB project in Malawi aims to reduce the number of deaths due to TB and TB/HIV co-infection by improving access to quality patient-centered care, prevention of transmission and progression to disease, and supporting the establishment of sustained and enhanced systems. The project is led by KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, with a total budget of USD $1,805,370 allocated for FY 2014. The project has made significant progress in setting up the in-country office, recruiting staff, and preparing for the implementation of the project in Year 2.