PMI-S TO 04 FY21 Q2 Quarterly Report (January 1 – March 31, 2021)

The project supports the Nigerian government in reducing malaria-related morbidity and mortality through the implementation of evidence-based interventions in four states: Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Zamfara. The project's primary objective is to reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality in the target states by increasing access to effective malaria prevention and treatment services. To achieve this objective, the project focuses on improving the capacity of state-level malaria programs, enhancing the availability and accessibility of malaria commodities, and promoting community-based malaria prevention and treatment activities. Implementation of the project began on August 13, 2020, and is expected to continue until June 28, 2025. The project's total estimated life-of-activity cost is $40,292,746. The project's reporting period for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 spans from January 1 to March 31, 2021. During the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, the project made significant progress in implementing its activities. The project's implementation progress is summarized in the following key areas: implementation challenges and proposed risk mitigation actions, monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan (MELP) update, integration of crosscutting issues and journey to self-reliance, collaboration and coordination with other stakeholders, management and administrative issues, lessons learned, planned activities and events for the next quarter, addressing TOCOR comments from the last quarterly report, and financial management. The project's implementation progress in the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 was marked by several achievements, including the completion of the activity monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan (AMELP), the development of the annual operational plan (AOP), and the implementation of the integrated community case management (iCCM) program. The project also made significant progress in strengthening the capacity of state-level malaria programs, enhancing the availability and accessibility of malaria commodities, and promoting community-based malaria prevention and treatment activities. Despite the progress made, the project faced several challenges during the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, including security concerns, gender equality and women's empowerment, sustainability and host country ownership, local capacity development, private sector engagement, science, technology, and innovation impacts, environmental compliance, and protecting life in global health assistance (PLGHA) compliance. The project's management and administrative issues also posed a challenge, including financial management and human resources management. The project's lessons learned during the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 highlighted the importance of collaboration and coordination with other stakeholders, including the Nigerian government, local communities, and other development partners. The project also emphasized the need for continued support for the Nigerian government in strengthening its malaria programs and enhancing the availability and accessibility of malaria commodities. The project's planned activities and events for the next quarter include the continuation of the iCCM program, the implementation of the seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) program, and the strengthening of the capacity of state-level malaria programs. The project also plans to continue its collaboration and coordination with other stakeholders, including the Nigerian government, local communities, and other development partners. In conclusion, the US President's Malaria Initiative for States (PMI-S) project made significant progress in implementing its activities during the second quarter of fiscal year 2021. The project's implementation progress was marked by several achievements, including the completion of the AMELP, the development of the AOP, and the implementation of the iCCM program. Despite the challenges faced, the project remains committed to its objective of reducing malaria-related morbidity and mortality in the target states.