Sauti Project FY19 Q2 Progress Report

Agency for International Development under Cooperative Agreement AID-621-A-15-00003. The project is implemented by Jhpiego Corporation in partnership with EngenderHealth, Inc., Pact, Inc., and the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR). Sauti Project supports the implementation of the US President's Plan for AIDS Relief by providing a package of core services to Key and Vulnerable Populations (KVP) in support of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania's commitment to HIV prevention. The project's objectives are multifaceted, focusing on biomedical, social and behavioral change communication and gender, research and learning agenda, engagement of civil society organizations and local governments, and monitoring and evaluation. The project aims to implement a package of core and expanded biomedical HIV prevention and family planning interventions, with enhanced linkages to care and treatment, and support services. Additionally, the project seeks to deploy interventions designed to reduce individual risk behaviors and strengthen support for positive social norms and structures, and address gender at the community level. In the second quarter of fiscal year 2019, the project achieved several key milestones. Biomedical interventions were implemented, including the provision of antiretroviral therapy and care and treatment services. Social and behavioral change communication and gender interventions were also implemented, focusing on reducing individual risk behaviors and strengthening support for positive social norms and structures. The project also executed a robust research and learning agenda, with a focus on improving the effectiveness of HIV prevention services. The project's monitoring and evaluation systems were strengthened, with a focus on building capacity among local partners and improving data quality. The Determined Resilient AIDS-free Mentored Safe (DREAMS) Initiative was also implemented, with a focus on providing comprehensive HIV prevention services to adolescent girls and young women. The project's personnel management, procurement, and subaward management systems were also strengthened, with a focus on improving efficiency and effectiveness. The project faced several challenges in the second quarter of fiscal year 2019, including difficulties in implementing biomedical interventions and challenges in engaging local partners. However, the project also identified several opportunities for growth and improvement, including the potential to expand its reach and impact through partnerships with local organizations. The project's planned activities for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 include continuing to implement biomedical interventions, expanding social and behavioral change communication and gender interventions, and strengthening the project's research and learning agenda. The project's finance management systems were also strengthened, with a focus on improving financial reporting and management. The project's lessons learned from the second quarter of fiscal year 2019 included the importance of building strong partnerships with local organizations and the need to improve the effectiveness of biomedical interventions. The project's challenges, opportunities, and way forward for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 include continuing to build strong partnerships, improving the effectiveness of biomedical interventions, and expanding the project's reach and impact. The project's planned activities for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 include continuing to implement biomedical interventions, expanding social and behavioral change communication and gender interventions, and strengthening the project's research and learning agenda. The project's capacity building and civil society organization engagement activities will also continue, with a focus on improving the effectiveness of HIV prevention services. The project's monitoring and evaluation systems will also be strengthened, with a focus on improving data quality and building capacity among local partners.