SHARe II Quarterly Report: January 1, 2013 – March 31, 2013

The project's purpose is to strengthen and expand leadership involvement in HIV/AIDS, improve the policy and regulatory environment, and enhance the organizational and technical capacity of coordinating structures to sustain the HIV/AIDS response. The project's vision is to contribute to a Zambia where HIV/AIDS is no longer a major public health concern, and the country's response to the epidemic is effective, sustainable, and led by the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ). The project's mission is to support the GRZ in its efforts to strengthen the national HIV/AIDS response, with a focus on leadership involvement, policy and regulatory environment, and organizational and technical capacity. The project's goal is to contribute to a reduction in new HIV infections and an increase in access to HIV/AIDS services, particularly among vulnerable populations. The project's objectives are to strengthen and expand leadership involvement in HIV/AIDS, improve the policy and regulatory environment, and enhance the organizational and technical capacity of coordinating structures. The project's expected results include the development and implementation of effective HIV/AIDS policies and laws, the strengthening of the capacity of the National AIDS Council (NAC) and other coordinating structures, and the expansion of workplace HIV/AIDS programs in the private and public sectors. The project also aims to improve collaboration and coordination among GRZ, USG partners, and other stakeholders. As of March 31, 2013, the project had made significant progress in achieving its objectives. The project had actively engaged and mobilized leadership, including Members of Parliament, GRZ officials, traditional leaders, religious leaders, and people living with HIV/AIDS, to increase participation in HIV/AIDS activities. The project had also strengthened the capacity of legal and policy entities to formulate and implement HIV-related laws and policies. The project had also made progress in strengthening the capacity of coordinating structures, including NAC, Provincial AIDS Task Forces (PATFs), and District AIDS Task Forces (DATFs). The project had supported the development of a common Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework for national HIV/AIDS activities and had established a mechanism for tracking leadership, legal and policy environment strengthening, and coordinating structures coordinating activities. In terms of workplace HIV/AIDS programs, the project had expanded and replicated efforts in the private sector, including small, medium, and large-scale businesses, and the informal sector. The project had also expanded and replicated efforts in the public sector, including continued support and expansion to additional line ministries. The project had also made progress in collaboration and coordination among GRZ, USG partners, and other stakeholders. The project had supported the coordination of designing, implementing, managing, and evaluating HIV/AIDS activities, ensuring ownership and use of HIV/AIDS approaches by the GRZ and other partners. The project's M&E support activities had focused on providing technical assistance to the SHARe II Secretariat units and partners. The project had also supported the development of a common M&E framework for national HIV/AIDS activities. In terms of finance and administration, the project had made progress in contract award, planning, and budgeting. The project had also made progress in staffing and recruitment, procurement, and sub-partnership development. The project's results framework, which outlines the expected outcomes and indicators for the project, is presented in Appendix I. The project's updated organogram, which outlines the project's organizational structure, is presented in Appendix III.