Second Quarter Report: Health Policy Plus

Agency for International Development (USAID) under Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-15-00051, beginning August 28, 2015. HP+ is implemented by Palladium, in collaboration with Avenir Health, Futures Group Global Outreach, Plan International USA, Population Reference Bureau (PRB), RTI International, the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (WRA), and ThinkWell. The project aims to improve the enabling environment for equitable and sustainable health services, supplies, and delivery systems through policy development and implementation, with an emphasis on voluntary, rights-based family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH); maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH); and HIV and AIDS. HP+ focuses on four result areas: advancing sustainable health policy; financing; stewardship, transparency, and accountability; and advocacy for RH/FP, HIV, and MNCH efforts at the global, national, and subnational levels. During the second quarter of 2016, HP+ achieved several key objectives. Funding through the end of the second quarter was US$27,874,157, which included US$6,037,500 Core funding for HIV activities and 14 field-support Missions. The project hosted its first HP+ Partners meeting with USAID attendance, where policy monitoring and evaluation was the focus. Additionally, HP+ completed a two-day Country Activity Manager (CAM) and Activity Manager (AM) training for Palladium and Partner staff. HP+ also made significant contributions to global dialogues on policy reform, financing, and HIV. The project hosted a brown bag lunch at USAID on stigma and discrimination, and contributed thought leadership to a global dialogue on policy reform, financing, and HIV. HP+ staff presented at a USAID-convened meeting on policy reform, providing examples from previous health policy projects and outlining the HP+ policy reform approach. In the area of FP/RH, HP+ is being implemented in a dynamic policy context. The emergence of Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) has provided new opportunities to strengthen commitment, increase investment, and enhance accountability. HP+ is demonstrating the importance of FP/RH in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project is working to advance sustainable health policy, financing, and stewardship, transparency, and accountability in the FP/RH sector. HP+ has a mandate across global, country, and subnational levels to strengthen and advance health policy priorities in FP/RH, HIV, and MNCH. The project's core programs provide technical leadership, develop practical tools and methodologies, add value to field support activities, and aim for higher-level outcomes. HP+ is working to strengthen the enabling environment for equitable and sustainable health services, supplies, and delivery systems, with a focus on FP/RH, HIV, and MNCH. The project's progress report highlights several key accomplishments, including the completion of a two-day CAM and AM training, the hosting of a brown bag lunch on stigma and discrimination, and contributions to global dialogues on policy reform, financing, and HIV. HP+ is working to advance sustainable health policy, financing, and stewardship, transparency, and accountability in the FP/RH sector, and is demonstrating the importance of FP/RH in achieving the SDGs.