ITPC Gets Green Light for West Africa Community Observatories

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Joint message from Board of ITPC Global and ITPC West Africa

ITPC Gets Green Light for Community Observatories

The Global Fund Board has given the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) final approval to support Community Observatories in West Africa. The program worth over €3.6 million will run over three years from January 2017 to December 2019. This decision by the Global Fund has been eagerly awaited by communities who are facing unacceptable challenges getting access to HIV treatment in 11 West African countries.

“We are very excited we finally have the go ahead to support communities to monitor access to HIV treatment and services in West Africa,” explains Solange Baptiste, Director of ITPC. “It is an unfortunate reality but communities still need to monitor the nature and quality of services they are offered. This is particularly important in West Africa where fewer than one in four people living with HIV are getting the HIV treatment they desperately need. This regional project will establish community monitoring systems to report regularly at national and regional levels. It will provide critical data for evidence-informed advocacy to help bring about optimal HIV treatment for all.”

Processes Leading to Significant Global Fund Decision

The initial decision to fund 11 Community Observatories came in May 2016, when the Global Fund recommended ITPC for a grant. To get this final agreement, ITPC Global and ITPC West Africa underwent a thorough review of systems and pre-grant processes and developed detailed management documents to guide and frame the implementation of the overall project. The history of each of the stages, from identification of the problem by communities, to meeting the requirements of the Global Fund is described in a recent update. “ITPC Community Observatories in Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Cameroon have shown us that community monitoring leads to improved services and helps to address issues, such as interruptions to drug supplies,” says Astou Diop Chair of Board, ITPC West Africa. “Governments and health service providers are more motivated to make improvements when they know they are being watched.”

ITPC Global and West Africa to share role of Principal Recipient

ITPC Global and West Africa will co-share the responsibilities and duties of the Principal Recipient. As Sub-Recipients, national networks of people living with HIV will lead implementation in each of the 11 countries. The regional network of people living with HIV will support regional efforts and activities as part of the program. Community Consultative Groups, comprised of key populations, women and youth living with HIV, will be established to complement the efforts of the networks in the implementation of Community Observatories at national and regional levels.

Alain Manouan to lead Community Observatories Program

We have successfully recruited an experienced HIV program leader to head up the Global Fund project. Involved in the HIV response in Africa for two decades, Alain Manouan worked for the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, becoming Regional Manager for West and Central Africa, before leading all the Alliance’s Africa programs. Previously, Alain worked for four years as National Program Officer for UNAIDS Cote d’Ivoire national program. The Community Observatories team will be based in Cote d’Ivoire and will be led by Alain. The Community Treatment Monitoring Project Director will work closely with the ITPC West Africa Regional Director to build on existing relationships and structures, and ensure sustainability of the work beyond this Global Fund project.