Inform'Asia:'USAID’s'Health'Research'program'Associate'Award'1:'Quarter'2'Report'for'Lao'People’s'Democratic'Republic'

The program aims to improve health outcomes through evidence-based health research results that inform national health policy and programming. The program's overarching goal is to contribute to Inform'Asia's program goal of "improved health outcomes as a result of evidence-based health research results that are used to inform national health policy and programming." The program has two objectives: Objective 1, Conducting scientific and operational research with regard to key populations, innovation design, health system strengthening, and the promotion of implementation science in Thailand and Lao PDR; and Objective 2, Strengthening the capacity of local institutions to conduct rigorous health research. The program proposed a total of nine research activities under the revised work plan submitted on December 22, 2015. This report summarizes the activities conducted in Lao PDR during Quarter 2 for activities approved by the Agreement Officer's Representative (AOR). The program's main partner, the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre (TRCARC), officially withdrew from the program in February 2016. As a result, the program was in the process of revising the program description for this and all other awards under the Inform'Asia umbrella for consideration by the Regional Development Mission Asia (RDMA). This quarterly report describes results related to the proposed activities for which the AOR gave approval in advance of the ongoing revision process. Progress is reported in terms of the areas of work proposed under the existing program description. The program's goal is to provide resources to conduct human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related research and capacity-building activities in Thailand and Lao PDR. The program's objectives are addressed through a total of nine research activities under the revised work plan submitted on December 22, 2015. This report summarizes the activities conducted in Lao PDR during Quarter 2 for activities approved by the AOR. The program's M&E table presents results for both Thailand and Lao PDR. The table includes indicators for both objectives, including the number of policies monitored through Policy Tracking Tables (PTTs), the number of research reports produced and disseminated to stakeholders, and the number of individuals who receive technical assistance (TA) and training in the adaptation and use of tools to measure stigma and discrimination (S&D). The program's progress is reported in terms of the areas of work proposed under the existing program description. The program's implementation status is reported in terms of the activities conducted in Lao PDR during Quarter 2. The program's achievements include the adaptation and implementation of the S&D assessment tool in Lao PDR, the development of an implementation plan, and the training in the adaptation and use of tools to measure S&D. The program's challenges include the withdrawal of the main partner, TRCARC, and the need to revise the program description for this and all other awards under the Inform'Asia umbrella. The program's planned activities for the next quarter include the continuation of the activities conducted in Lao PDR during Quarter 2, including the adaptation and implementation of the S&D assessment tool, the development of an implementation plan, and the training in the adaptation and use of tools to measure S&D. The program's upcoming events and travel include the participation in the Inform'Asia quarterly meeting and the travel to Lao PDR to conduct a site visit. The program's financial report for the quarter ending March 31, 2016, is included in Annex A. The report includes the financial summary, the budget, and the expenditure. The program's financial status is reported in terms of the activities conducted in Lao PDR during Quarter 2. The program's achievements include the adaptation and implementation of the S&D assessment tool in Lao PDR, the development of an implementation plan, and the training in the adaptation and use of tools to measure S&D. The program's challenges include the withdrawal of the main partner,