Task Order 2, Avian Influenza: Project Completion Report

The project aimed to manage the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Avian Influenza International Stockpile (AIIS) and distribute avian influenza (AI) commodities to recipient countries worldwide. The project ensured the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), decontamination equipment, and laboratory specimen and testing supplies to support surveillance and outbreak response activities in countries at risk for and experiencing H5N1 outbreaks. Task Order 2 (TO2) addressed the specific challenges of stockpile management and international distribution of the stockpile commodities. The project was organized around two sub-activities: Activity 1, which involved managing the AIIS and establishing a global supply chain to distribute commodities to meet outbreak response and resupply requirements, and Activity 2, which procured new items to replenish or improve the original stockpile items and other commodities to meet programmatic needs in the field. Significant improvements were made to the stockpile components and overall management of USAID assets through stockpile quality monitoring. A management information system (MIS) was established to ensure visibility into the supply chain managed by the project, providing up-to-date inventory and shipment data on current and past shipments. During the project period, the epidemiological profile of the highly pathogenic AI H5N1 virus contracted from its once-broad range of affected countries to a concentrated incidence of new cases in a smaller number of countries. In response to this changing epidemiological profile, the project strategy shifted to place more emphasis on technical assistance and revising the shipping approach. The project provided technical assistance to countries to enhance their capacity to manage and respond to AI outbreaks. The project also revised its shipping approach to prioritize the delivery of critical commodities to countries with the highest risk of AI outbreaks. The project's efforts resulted in significant improvements to the stockpile components and overall management of USAID assets. The project's management information system provided valuable insights into the supply chain, enabling the project to make data-driven decisions to optimize the distribution of commodities. The project's technical assistance and revised shipping approach helped to enhance the capacity of countries to manage and respond to AI outbreaks, ultimately contributing to the reduction of the virus's spread.