Quarterly Report: HP+ Pakistan (April - June 2016)

The project aims to strengthen and advance health policy priorities in HIV, family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH), and maternal health in Pakistan. HP+ has a mandate across global, country, and subnational levels to improve the enabling environment for equitable and sustainable health services, supplies, and delivery systems through policy development and implementation. The project focuses on voluntary, rights-based health programs and strengthens in-country partners' capacity to navigate complex environments for effective policy design, implementation, and financing. The overarching goal for HP+ in Pakistan is to improve the enabling environment for FP2020 goals through improved stewardship, policy implementation, advocacy, and accountability. To achieve this goal, HP+ will pursue four objectives: strengthening population sector stewardship, strengthening implementation policies and plans for accelerated progress towards FP2020 goals, strengthening individual and institutional capacity in advocacy, policy communications, and accountability, and providing support to the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination. In the third quarter of FY2016, HP+ conducted a political economy analysis (PEA) to examine the family planning sector in Sindh Province. The project completed a desk review to develop a profile and current status of the FP sector at the national and provincial levels, with a focus on Sindh. HP+ also participated in the inception meeting of the FP2020 Working Group and plans to work with the group to help shepherd Sindh's approach to FP devolution. HP+ hired a technical advisor as a consultant to assist in executing the Costed Implementation Plan (CIP). The advisor will lead the coordination between the PWD, DOH, and PPHI to ensure that the appropriate office within the PWD addresses necessary planning, financing, and performance management. The project also began the desk application for ImpactNow and plans to engage in-country stakeholders to validate the data and assumptions and further refine the scenarios. In addition, the PWD has requested HP+ to develop a workplan for the department. HP+ is in the process of completing the document, based on the project's workplan, the CIP, and the recently approved PC-1. The project also held an introductory meeting with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination. HP+ has made significant progress in establishing a project office in Karachi and recruiting and hiring technical, operational, and administrative staff. The project office opened on April 1, 2016, and most of the office supplies and IT components were procured this quarter. HP+ also hired a Finance and Operations Manager and Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor that started on April 1, 2016, and recruited the administrative and operations staff throughout the quarter. The project plans to hold a two-week residential workshop with women leaders from Sindh province under the Women Leaders activity. HP+ intends to hold the workshop in late September/early October 2016, pending scheduling, venue availability, and other logistics needs.