Quarterly Report FY13 (Q1)

The project targets males having sex with males (MSM) in Quezon City and people who inject drugs (PWID) in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue. The ROMP Project objectives include improving the supply of HIV/AIDS services, increasing demand for HIV/AIDS services through encouraging adoption of appropriate health behaviors within families, and removing HIV/AIDS policy and systems barriers to improve supply and demand for services. To achieve these objectives, the project includes targeted technical assistance (TA) and other activities. During the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2013 (October 1 to December 31, 2012), the ROMP Project was able to accomplish all start-up activities related to program development and program reporting. These activities included establishing an FHI 360 office in the Department of Health, recruiting administrative support staff, conducting orientation, consultation, and work planning meetings with the Department of Health, implementing agencies, local government units, and other partners, and developing and finalizing the Year One work plan. However, start-up activities for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) were not completed, as field-level activities have not yet been initiated. Preparatory activities, such as the development of concept design, identification of TA providers, and coordination with relevant partners, are ongoing. The rapid assessment for MSM and PWID was partially accomplished, and no activities have been started to address the three ROMP Project objectives. The project plans to begin implementing activities in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2013, including conducting a rapid assessment of the MSM and PWID situation, existing programs, and services, monitoring the implementation of ROMP MSM and PWID interventions, developing and enhancing interventions in MSM cruising sites or locations, and developing and enhancing MSM interventions in selected barangays or communities. The ROMP Project aims to contribute to improved service delivery of a comprehensive package of services (CPS) that includes STI/HIV prevention, treatment, care, support, and referral services for most-at-risk populations (MARPs). The project targets males having sex with males (MSM) in Quezon City and people who inject drugs (PWID) in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue. The ROMP Project's implementation plan includes several key activities, including conducting a rapid assessment of the MSM and PWID situation, existing programs, and services, monitoring the implementation of ROMP MSM and PWID interventions, developing and enhancing interventions in MSM cruising sites or locations, and developing and enhancing MSM interventions in selected barangays or communities. The project's monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan includes several key activities, including conducting IA meetings to revisit existing tools and indicators, conducting monthly meetings of IAs project staff, conducting monthly cluster meetings of PEs and supervisors, meeting with project TWG/Project Steering Committees (PSC), and conducting quarterly project monitoring and mentoring visits. The ROMP Project's budget for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2013 was $X, which was allocated to various activities, including program development, program reporting, and monitoring and evaluation. The project's budget for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2013 is expected to be $Y, which will be allocated to various activities, including conducting a rapid assessment of the MSM and PWID situation, existing programs, and services, monitoring the implementation of ROMP MSM and PWID interventions, and developing and enhancing interventions in MSM cruising sites or locations.