USAID County Measurements, Learning and Accountability Program 1 - Tupime Kaunti FY19 Q3 Quarterly Progress Report

The project's technical and financial support enabled 5 out of 8 counties to finalize their health strategic and investment plans and accompanying M&E plans. Kisumu county was the first to launch both the strategic plan and the M&E Plan for 2018-2023. The project continued to provide technical assistance during the development of 2019/20 Annual Work Plans (AWPs) in 5 out of 8 focus counties. The AWPs identified populations and geographic areas with the highest disease burden for effective program interventions and outlined coordination of all HIV/AIDS, RMNCAH, and Malaria implemented activities in the counties. Seven out of 8 focus counties produced HIV profiles to guide leadership and technical staff on HIV priorities for accelerated response. The project also made progress towards epidemic control, with counties achieving significant milestones in the 90-90-90 SI interventions. For example, Bungoma county achieved 75% in the first 90, 99% in the second 90, and 90% in the third 90. Kisumu, Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, and Homa Bay counties completed their CHSSIP and M&E Plan development, while Kisumu, Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, and Homa Bay counties convened HIV TWG meetings and reviewed progress in implementation of HIV activities in AWP 2018/2019. The project provided technical assistance to Kisumu, Migori, Busia, and Kisii counties to update data review templates in collaboration with NASCOP. Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, and Vihiga counties achieved significant progress in the 90-90-90 SI interventions, with some counties achieving 100% in the second 90. The project's qualitative impact was also significant, with key achievements in increasing leadership and management capacity of County Governments for effective outcome measurements, learning, and accountability systems. All counties developed M&E plans, with Kisumu county launching their CHSSIP and its accompanying M&E plan. Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga, Homa Bay, and Bungoma counties completed their M&E Plans pending joint launches with their respective CHSSIPs in the subsequent quarters. The project also convened Malaria TWGs and utilized the platform to monitor implementation of the data quality improvement plans using the project-developed monitoring tool. Bungoma and Vihiga Malaria TWGs observed that the referral hospitals were contributing to most of the data gaps and informed prioritization for data quality reviews. The project provided technical and financial support to Migori County to draft the communications strategy, which provides a framework for result communication and feedback, critical for learning and accountability. In addition, Kisii County Ministerial Leadership Coordination Committee convened an evidence-based learning and accountability forum to review performance of health indicators and data quality gaps. As a result, targeted joint data quality and facility performance review interventions were prioritized for the low-performing sub-counties of Bobasi and South Mugirango. The MLCC further undertook staff rationalization to address the performance and staffing gaps. The project's progress in FY19 Q3 demonstrates its commitment to strengthening county M&E systems, improving leadership and management capacity, and enhancing county advocacy and communication of results. The project's achievements in the 90-90-90 SI interventions and the development of M&E plans and CHSSIPs are significant milestones towards epidemic control.