USAID | HIV/AIDS Service Capacity Project in Ukraine (USCP) End-of-Project Report (2007–2012)

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in cooperation with the Government of Ukraine (GOU), the project was implemented from September 2007 to 2012. The primary goal of the project was to leverage and support the activities of the Global Fund and, in concert with the GOU, civil society organizations (CSOs), and USAID implementing partners, improve HIV prevention, care, and treatment services and the resulting HIV incidence and mortality metrics. Ukraine has the highest HIV prevalence rate in Eastern Europe, making it a priority country for efforts to combat the epidemic in the region. The country's complex, outdated legal and regulatory system, along with the concentrated nature of the epidemic—affecting most at-risk populations (MARPs) such as people who inject drugs (PWID), sex workers (SWs), males who have sex with males (MSM), and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC)—make policy, evidence-informed decision making, and issues of participation, stigma, and discrimination paramount to fostering a more effective HIV response. The project utilized the primary elements of improving Ukraine's legal and regulatory framework and supporting the organizational capacity of both government and civil society. Key achievements of the project and its partners include the adoption of the 2010 National HIV/AIDS Law, which significantly expanded service access and human rights protections for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and MARPs, including OVC. The project also strengthened government leadership and governance, empowered civil society groups and MARP leaders, and improved access to and quality of donor and government-funded services. The project's activities supported GOU bodies in assuming increased responsibility for implementing the Global Fund grant and engaging stakeholders and decisionmakers at regional and local levels in the effective design and coordination of HIV services. USCP worked closely with parliamentarians, committees, and working groups, as well as engaged civil society, PLHIV, and MARPs to ensure that the needs of key populations were incorporated into the law. The project also supported the development of a country-level monitoring and evaluation system, which enabled the tracking of progress and the identification of areas for improvement. One of the project's key policy initiatives was the establishment of protocols and guidelines for orphans and vulnerable children. The project also supported the development of procurement and supply management (PSM) systems, which enabled the efficient and effective distribution of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and other essential medicines. Additionally, the project worked to reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, including through the development of training programs for healthcare providers and other stakeholders. The project's success was due in part to its focus on building the capacity of government and civil society organizations, as well as its commitment to improving access to and quality of services for key populations.