TB Innovations | Start-up Plan | Feb-May 2018

The project aims to contribute to the US Government's priorities in the Philippines, specifically Development Objective 1: Broad-based and Inclusive Growth Accelerated and Sustained, and Development Objective 2: Peace and Stability in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao Improved. TB Innovations will work closely with USAID, the Department of Health, the Global Fund, and various Filipino stakeholders to achieve the broader vision and support the attainment of the Philippine Health Agenda. The project envisions an integrated, innovative, and viable national organizational system to achieve national TB prevention and management targets through strategic mobilization and utilization of advanced science, art, and technologies. The project's strategic design is driven by a three-pillar integrated and synchronized approach: Engage and Empower, Innovate and Scale Up, and Transition and Sustain. Each pillar will inform and shape the activities of the four main objectives, which address major gaps in the national TB program and support USAID program objectives. The four main objectives are: Rapidly expand state-of-the-art case detection, appropriate treatment seeking behavior, and treatment adherence interventions for vulnerable and high-risk populations; Integrate and institutionalize high-impact practices to improve TB and DR-TB quality of care for public and non-public sectors; Optimize TB diagnostic networks to utilize existing tools and incorporate innovative approaches; and Fortify the Department of Health system and capacity to implement an effective and responsive national TB program. During the start-up period, key deliverables include identifying and renting a project office, mobilizing project key personnel, recruiting local project staff, developing administrative, legal, and operational requirements, and submitting quarterly financial reports and branding strategies to USAID. Short-term technical assistance providers will assist the TB Innovations team in Manila to develop and finalize the Year 1 Workplan, identify immediate programmatic and innovation priorities, and facilitate operational, logistical, and administrative processes. The project will work closely with the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) counterparts and relevant USAID-funded and international projects and programs to achieve its objectives. The project will also introduce and launch TB Innovations to NTP and local counterparts, develop project-specific SOPs and procedures, and execute subawards with core partners. Coordination meetings with USAID and other key partners will be established to ensure effective collaboration and support. TB Innovations will focus on engaging and empowering key stakeholders, innovating and scaling up effective interventions, and transitioning and sustaining positive changes in the national TB program. The project will work to identify and adopt innovative approaches and tools to influence behaviors and biases of providers, patients, and organizations to combat stigma and address relevant associated social determinants of health.