Quarterly Report FY 2015 Q2 LIFT II Project

Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of HIV and AIDS (OHA) under Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-LA-13-00006. LIFT II was launched August 1, 2013 as a five-year associate award (AA) under the Financial Integration, Economic Leveraging, Broad-Based Dissemination and Support (FIELD-Support) Leaders with Associates (LWA). LIFT II is managed and led by FHI 360 and implemented with support from CARE International (CARE) and World Vision (WV). The project aims to improve the livelihoods and food security of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) in several countries in Africa. Under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the incidence of new HIV infections continues to decline, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) has become more widely available. ART provision has had positive impacts on PLHIV who are living better and longer lives, but at the same time has created more pressures for governments and communities with already scarce resources to provide ongoing care and support. More work remains to be done to address the impact of HIV on people's livelihoods and food security, especially in countries with high HIV prevalence rates. The LIFT II project focuses on several key areas, including household economic strengthening, economic strengthening for the very poor, and livelihoods and food security. The project also aims to improve the capacity of local organizations and governments to provide HIV-related services and support. In the second quarter of FY 2015, LIFT II continued to make progress in implementing its programming in several countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zambia. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, LIFT II supported the establishment of a referral network in the Balaka region, which aims to improve access to HIV-related services for PLHIV. The project also provided technical assistance to local organizations to improve their capacity to provide HIV-related services. In Lesotho, LIFT II supported the implementation of a household economic strengthening program, which aims to improve the economic well-being of PLHIV and their families. In Malawi, LIFT II supported the implementation of a livelihoods and food security program, which aims to improve the food security and livelihoods of PLHIV and their families. The project also provided technical assistance to local organizations to improve their capacity to provide HIV-related services. In Namibia, LIFT II supported the establishment of a referral network in the Khomas region, which aims to improve access to HIV-related services for PLHIV. The project also provided technical assistance to local organizations to improve their capacity to provide HIV-related services. In Nigeria, LIFT II supported the implementation of a household economic strengthening program, which aims to improve the economic well-being of PLHIV and their families. The project also provided technical assistance to local organizations to improve their capacity to provide HIV-related services. In Tanzania, LIFT II supported the implementation of a livelihoods and food security program, which aims to improve the food security and livelihoods of PLHIV and their families. The project also provided technical assistance to local organizations to improve their capacity to provide HIV-related services. In Zambia, LIFT II supported the establishment of a referral network in the Lusaka region, which aims to improve access to HIV-related services for PLHIV. The project also provided technical assistance to local organizations to improve their capacity to provide HIV-related services. Overall, LIFT II continued to make progress in implementing its programming in several countries in Africa, and the project remains committed to improving the livelihoods and food security of PLHIV and their families. The LIFT II project also continued to strengthen its monitoring and evaluation systems, including the use of data collection tools such as Open Data Kit (ODK) and the Site Improvement Monitoring System (SIMS). The project also continued to provide technical assistance to local organizations to improve their capacity to provide HIV-related services and support. In addition, LIFT II continued to document best practices for scale-up and dissemination, including the use of the LIFT II website and resource dissemination platform. In terms of staffing, LIFT II continued to have a strong team of technical experts and support staff, including project managers, technical advisors, and monitoring and evaluation specialists. The project also continued to have a strong partnership with local organizations and governments, including the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) and the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health (MCDMCH). Overall, LIFT II continued to make progress in implementing its programming in several countries in Africa, and the project remains committed to improving the livelihoods and food security of PLHIV and their families.