Support to the HIV/AIDS Response in Zambia (SHARe II) Quarterly Report: July to September 2015

and partners, including Initiatives Inc., LEAD Program-Zambia, and Zambia Interfaith Networking Organization on HIV (ZINGO), among others. The project was funded by the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the terms of the SHARe II Project: GHH-1-02-07-00059-00. The project's purpose was to support and strengthen the multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS in Zambia, contributing to the achievement of the USAID/Zambia Mission strategic objectives on reducing the impact of HIV/AIDS. SHARe II built upon successes, innovations, and best practices from the previous SHARE I project and worked through strategic coalitions and partnerships with the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council and other stakeholders to support Zambia's HIV/AIDS response. The project had four main objectives: to strengthen and expand leadership involvement in HIV/AIDS and improve the policy and regulatory environment; to strengthen the organizational and technical capacity of coordinating structures to sustain the HIV/AIDS response; to strengthen and expand HIV/AIDS workplace programs; and to strengthen collaboration and coordination of HIV/AIDS activities with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, U.S. Government-funded partners, and other stakeholders. Despite facing significant funding constraints in FY 2014 and FY 2015, including a Stop Work Order in November 2014 and funding reductions in January 2015, SHARe II was able to adjust its programming and absorb the impact of these challenges. The project was able to achieve most of its set targets and deliverables, largely due to the sustainability measures built into programs with partner beneficiaries. SHARe II's life of project (LOP) PEPFAR (MER and NGI) and custom indicator results showed that the project achieved or surpassed all MER PEPFAR targets, with results in all indicators being 91% and above. For indicator GEND_NORM, results far exceeded set targets, with a 214% achievement. The project also achieved or surpassed all PEPFAR NGI LOP targets, with results in all indicators being 91% and above. The project's achievements were notable in several areas, including the expansion of workplace HIV/AIDS programs to more workplaces than originally anticipated, resulting in a 218% achievement in indicator 3.1_Inst: Availability of Workplace HIV/AIDS Policies and Programs. The project also introduced a modified form of the Positive Action by Workers (PAW) strategy, which contributed significantly to overachievement in indicator 3.6: Prevention Efforts with HIV-positive Persons. In terms of geographic focus, SHARe II was implemented in various locations across Zambia, including the Eastern Province, where the project's activities were focused on strengthening the organizational and technical capacity of coordinating structures to sustain the HIV/AIDS response. The project also worked with the Zambia Prisons Service to provide defined PLHIV services to inmates living with HIV. Overall, SHARe II's achievements demonstrate the project's commitment to supporting and strengthening the multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS in Zambia, contributing to the achievement of the USAID/Zambia Mission strategic objectives on reducing the impact of HIV/AIDS.