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Examples of Current Projects |
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- HDA has just been awarded the contract to manage the Technical Support Facility (TSF) for Southern Africa for a further two years. This UNAIDS -funded programme facilitates access to timely, good quality short-term consultant support for scaling up national HIV/AIDS programmes across 14 countries in Southern Africa. The focus areas of the project are programme management and planning, including support to Global Fund proposals and Grant Implementation. TSF-SA works closely with country partners in collaborative planning and management of technical support to ensure country ownership of technical support and improved results of consultancies. The TSF has also systematically expanded use of regional consultants to serve the needs of countries and programmes in the region.
As part of this initiative the TSF has had a professional development programme for consultants and country counterparts that targets priority needs identified in the region, and works with other TSFs, UNAIDS and other partners. Recent capacity development initiatives have covered areas that include: results based planning and management (RBM); costing and budgeting of HIV and AIDS programmes and proposals; Global Fund and other M&E; Global Fund performance based management systems and governance; and consulting skills. The TSF team has accumulated considerable experience in developing innovative ways that overcome traditional obstacles to effective capacity development.
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- THOGOMELO OVC Caregiver Support and Child Protection Training is funded by the US Agency for International Development, in partnership with the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (Path) as the prime contractor, HDA and The Internation HIV and AIDS Alliance, this 5-year project develops training approaches and materials for supporting the caregivers of vulnerable children across all 9 provinces of South Africa and at least 500 learners are targeted annually. To promote sustainablility and scale up of deliverables, the programme seeks to build the capacity of provincial training service providers to deliver training as well as undertake assessment and moderation of learners in line with the requirements of the Health and Welfare SETA. To date the project has developed an accredited skills development programme addressing the psychosocial wellbeing and support for of comunity caregivers at levels 1 and 2 of the NAtional Qualifications Framework (NQF).
The training incorporates two modules on developing appropriate skills in child protection. During Year 2 a second curriculum offering more advanced child protection skills to the supervisors of community caregivers will be piloted (levels 3 and 4 of the NQF). A further curriculum offering Psychosocial Support Skills for supervisors is in the planning stages. The project has developed a Good Practice Case Study on developing accredited curricula to share the lessons it has learnt in this process. Further Good Practice Case Studies will be developed and disseminated through a seminar series in Year Two.
The South African Department of Social Development (DSD) and USAID/PEPFAR, in collaboration with the Population Council, HIV 911/HIVAN, Westat Contract Research Organization, and Trialogue is completing the development of the new national Children Services Directory. The directory contains a comprehensive, up to date listing of non-profit organisations (NPOs) and governmental organisations that are working in South Africa to address the needs of orphaned and other vulnerable children (OVC). The directory will be accessible in four ways: Online, Hard Copy, CD-Rom and SMS-like Service. For more information please visit: The Childrens Services Directory
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- Free State Province Schools-Based Support to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), 2009-2010: Together with the Free State Department of Education, this PEPFAR funded project uses the “Circles of Support” model to capacitate communities to identify and use existing resources to support OVC.
This project will train and support caregivers across 90 schools in the Lejweleputswa District of the province. HDA in partnership with the Free State Departmenet of Education in South Africa is running the circles of support project to support vulnerable children in the Lejwelputswa District.
The project is targeting to reach over 12000 children with a comprehensive package of services. The project will train and support School based support teams as well as community members to ensure that schools and communities are responsive to the needs of vulnerable children. The project emphasizes the importance of systems strengthening which will ensure that caring and support for children is inculcated into the school norms and thus promoting sustainability beyond the funded phase.
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- Child Protection in Emergencies:CPC Learning Network is an agency learning network on the care and protection in children in crisis-affected countries. HDA has been contracted by CPC to conduct a literature review and telephonic interviews on programmes that have effectively addressed sexual exploitation, domestic violence and abuse of boys and girls in emergencies in a range of geographical contexts around the world. This will be used to inform a synthesis report on good approaches and practices that can then be integrated into the development and implementation of affiliated programmes.
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- Participatory approaches to juvenile justice: THDA has been contracted by the UNICEF Regional Office for CEE/SEE in Geneva, to evaluate participatory interventions in the field of juvenile justice in Central Asia, and on this basis to develop guidelines that will be disseminated to UNICEF Country Offices in the region.
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- Polio Laboratory Containment: The Department of Health in South Africa appointed HDA to survey all laboratories in South Africa to determine which laboratories could potentially store wild poliovirus specimens. HDA has completed the assessment and is in the process of writing the final report and disseminating awareness-raising materials. This forms part of the country’s obligation towards certifying South Africa as Polio-free, an essential step towards polio eradication across the region. This project is in compliance with the WHO global action plan for laboratory containment of wild polioviruses.
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- The Second National HIV and AIDS Communication Survey 2009 (NCS 2009): The National Communication Survey on HIV/AIDS (NCS), 2009, examined the effectiveness of 11 South African HIV/AIDS communication programmes. It was the second such survey to be conducted, the first having taken place in 2006. The survey was co-funded by the Department of Health thorugh the Khomanani campaign, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief(PEPFAR). The partners involved were Johns Hopkins Health and Education in South Africa(JHHESA), the Department of Health, Soul City and the Community Media Trust. A total of 9 728 people aged between 16 and 55 years, from all nine provinces and representative of the country’s population, took part in the survey. Respondents underwent a thorough interview, in which they were asked to provide answers around questions of knowledge, behaviour and social norms surrounding HIV/AIDS. The key results of the survey are found at www.jhhesa.org. Currenty HDA is in the process of finalising partner specific and provincial reports specific to the findings from each programme and province.
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- A formative study in Gert Sibande: HDA has been contracted to undertake research for Johns Hopkins University on attitudes, knowledge and behavior in relation to HIV and AIDS in Gert Sibande, which is a district municipality in Mpumulanga. According to the HSRC 2008 survey, Mpumalanga is among the top three provinces with the highest HIV prevalence in South Africa. This project will provide the Gert Sibande District Municipality with greater insight into the local HIV epidemic so that appropriate objectives and community-specific responses can be developed.
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- MSM: HDA looks forward to collaborating with JHHESA on research on HIV knowledge, attitudes and risk behavior in relation to MSM. HDA will use quantitative and qualitative research methods to find out more information about sexual practices, knowledge of HIV, sexual partnerships, condom usage, stigma and discrimination, access to health care services and the attitudes of health care providers, violence against MSM, and the extent to which MSM feel that existing communication interventions are relevant to them.
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- RAPID ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN LESOTHO: HDA is undertaking an assessment for UNDP on trafficking in the Quthing and Maseru districts in Lesotho. The assessment aims to provide a clear understanding of the magnitude of the trafficking problem in these areas. This assessment will inform the development of capacity building plans for the national task team and their stakeholders and provide insight when reviewing and finalizing the national action plan.
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Examples of Past Projects
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- Community Studies for the Johns Hopkins Health and Education in South Africa (JHHESA): Community studies have been conducted in 4 communities in South Africa. This project used both quantitative and tailored complementary qualitative research with key groups such as men who have multiple partnerships, in- and out-of-school youth, hostel dwellers, taxi drivers, traditional health practitioners and tavern owners. HDA is compiling user-friendly reports outlining the findings for each community. These will assist local level organisations to refine their HIV/AIDS programming.
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- Costing of AntiRetroviral Treatment Regimens: This costing analysis for the Elizabeth Glazer Paediatric Aids Foundation (EGPAF) takes place in Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire. The project aims to provide insights into cost variations of HIV/AIDS treatment services and to inform future planning and management for EGPAF and other stakeholders.
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- STAR FOR LIFE Monitoring and Evaluation Partnership: This partnership developed and implemented a range of monitoring and evaluation activities for STAR FOR LIFE,a schools-based HIV prevention initiative currently operational in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban and Namibia. The impact of STAR FOR LIFE after 1 year of implementation was presented at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico, 2008. A Final Report on the evaluation of STAR FOR LIFE was completed and submitted in January 2010.
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- Health in Gauteng: Status Report 2006/2007: Commissioned by the Gauteng Department of Health, South Africa, this project included review, analysis and interpretation of data from the District Health Information System and other data sources. The Status Report was disseminated to policy-makers, managers, NGO's and the public.
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- A Schools-based Model for Care and Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, 2007 - 2008: This project, a partnership between HDA, the Eastern Cape Department of Education and LINK Community Development, developed and implemented a schools-based programme in 100 primary schools. Multi-disciplinary teams worked with each school to identify orphans and vulnerable children and to intervene through direct support and community mobilisation.
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- Integrating Human Resources Planning for HIV/AIDS and the Health System, for Ministry of Health in Botswana, 2007: This project, led by Health Partners Southern Africa and funded by CDC/ BOTUSA, formed part of a comprehensive human resource planning exercise. HDA developed planning approaches for HIV/AIDS services. The methodology included a needs assessment, modelling of service needs over the decade, development of staffing norms and structures across key service components, and projection of costs.
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- Evaluating HEARTLINES, 2006: Heartlines is a media initiative which uses television, radio, print and other channels to promote conversations, thought and action around values in South Africa. HDA was the evaluation partner for the first phase of this innovative intervention. The year 1 evaluation included qualitative and quantitative methods to understand impact and provide direction for future programming.
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- Research Management and Technical Support to the South African Government's National AIDS Communication Programme, 2001-2006: HDA provided technical leadership in formative research, qualitative mid-term reviews and monitoring and evaluation of this large-scale programme. As part of this project, HDA, together with JHHESA, successfully initiated the First National HIV and AIDS Communication Survey 2006. This project was jointly funded by the National Department of Health, United States Agency for International Development, and PEPFAR in collaboration with JHHESA. This study was jointly undertaken with the Centre for AIDS Development Research and Evaluation (CADRE). It measured exposure to 19 different AIDS communication programmes. HDA produced provincial-level analyses of the NCS 2006 and a specific report for Khomanani detailing the impact of its various sub-programmes.
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- Development and Management of the Community Action Component of the South African Government's National AIDS Communication Programme, 2004-2006: This intervention provided the core campaigns of Khomanani with a face-to-face communication channel capable of reaching one million people. The project was established in 27 sites across South Africa, reaching vulnerable and hard to reach communities and reinforcing the HIV prevention and care and support messages that were the focus of the mass media campaigns.
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- Identification of Research Gaps for HIV/AIDS for the Department of Social Development, South Africa, 2006: HDA worked with the Department of Social Development to identify research gaps in their HIV/AIDS response and to define a process to address information needs. The project included the development of a searchable database of research that is relevant to Social Development policies and programmes. The database remains housed at the Department and is updated periodically.
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- Circles of Support for Vulnerable Children: A Community and Schools-Based Multi-Sectoral Approach to Meeting Their Needs, 2003-2005: This pilot project in Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland was supported by the European Union and the Southern African Development Community Health Co-ordinating Unit. HDA and local partners developed and implemented a schools-based networking approach to the care and support of orphans and vulnerable children. Elements of the approach and materials have continued to be used and expanded on across the Region.
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- Lower Income Medical Schemes Household Survey, 2005-2006: HDA designed, managed and analysed this survey for the South African Ministerial Task Team on Low Income Medical Schemes. A national sample of low income households was surveyed to assess current health seeking behaviour, needs and preferences for different medical insurance package options. The methodology used a range of standard and innovative techniques to rank preferences and priorities more effectively.
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- Impact Assessment of a New Programming Component on HIV and AIDS for Takalani Sesame, 2005: A community randomised controlled trial was conducted in rural and urban areas in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. The trial aimed to assess the effectiveness of an innovative media intervention in promoting dialogue about HIV between young children and their caregivers.
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- Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in Namibia, 2005: This project, supported by the Namibian National HIV/AIDS Coordination Programme and the European Union, developed training modules for Namibian AIDS programme managers and conducted training and mentoring of colleagues in Namibia to enable them to train a wider group. The training focused on skills to incorporate HIV/AIDS interventions into the mainstream activities of various sectors and work places. Training manuals and materials were printed by the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Namibia.
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- Impact of HIV and AIDS on the Health Sector in Swaziland, 2005: This project was commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Swaziland and supported by the US Agency for International Development. This project, conducted together with JTK Associates, Swaziland, provided information for advocacy and planning purposes in order to facilitate more effective responses to HIV and AIDS by the sector. The assessment used quantitative and qualitative projections of needs and costs related to various services, including ART, TB and in-patient care.
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