HIV Reform in Action: Health Systems Strengthening for a Sustainable HIV/AIDS Response in Ukraine (HSS SHARE)

The project was implemented by Deloitte Consulting LLP, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project's overall objective was to enhance national leadership and capacity for evidence-based and gender-sensitive HIV policy programming and implementation. The project focused on several key areas, including national leadership and capacity, local government capacity, and health system strengthening. In the reporting period, the project team organized seminars for public sector agencies and regional representatives on the development of Regional AIDS Programs (RAPs). The team also provided technical assistance to 13 regions on the development of RAPs. The project team worked closely with the State Service of Ukraine on HIV and Other Socially Dangerous Diseases (SS) and the Ukrainian Center for Disease Control (UCDC) to strengthen the capacity of national government institutions in AIDS policy development, programming, and implementation. The team participated in meetings with the Health Reform Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) and developed and proposed health reform strategy development ideas. The project also focused on strengthening the capacity of local government entities in implementing regional AIDS programs, with an emphasis on key affected populations. The team supported the development of RAPs, including budget planning, and worked with Regional TB and HIV Coordination Councils (RCC) in RAP preparation. Meetings were conducted with regional teams on RAP development, and schedules were agreed upon for RAP preparation. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the project team finalized the RAP, which included prioritized and integrated regional activities. In the Poltava region, the team reviewed and transformed the existing draft program into the RAP template, checked calculations, and provided comments for corrections and updates. The project also developed analytical reviews of current functions of the SS and analyzed those in relation to national HIV legislation and functions of other state entities. The project's progress and performance in the reporting period were evaluated, and the team provided technical recommendations regarding the structure of the potential Public Health department within the Ministry of Health. The project will hold stakeholder consultations to present the results of the review in the beginning of the second quarter. The project's overall progress and performance in the reporting period were satisfactory, with several key activities completed or in progress. The project team worked closely with national and local government institutions, as well as other stakeholders, to strengthen the capacity of Ukraine's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The project's success will depend on continued support and collaboration from all stakeholders involved. The project's geographic focus was on Ukraine, with a specific emphasis on the Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, and Poltava regions. The project's timeframes were from October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2018, with the reporting period covering October 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014. The project's recommendations and findings will inform future efforts to strengthen Ukraine's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The project's implementation details included the provision of technical assistance to national and local government institutions, as well as other stakeholders. The project team worked closely with the SS and UCDC to develop and implement RAPs, and provided support to regional teams on RAP development. The project also developed analytical reviews of current functions of the SS and analyzed those in relation to national HIV legislation and functions of other state entities. The project's key findings and conclusions included the need for continued support and collaboration from all stakeholders involved to strengthen Ukraine's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The project's success will depend on the effective implementation of RAPs, the strengthening of national and local government capacity, and the continued provision of technical assistance to stakeholders. The project's recommendations included the need for the Ministry of Health to formalize the process of health reform implementation, and for the SS to transfer policy-making functions to the new Public Health department. The project also recommended that the UCDC strengthen programming, surveillance, and monitoring functions. The project will continue to work closely with national and local government institutions, as well as other stakeholders, to implement these recommendations and strengthen Ukraine's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.