| IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE EXPANDED SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR HIV AND AIDS IN ZIMBABWE (ESP) | |
| Name: | Impact Assessment of the Expanded Support Programme for HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe (ESP) |
| Year: | 2011 |
| Client: | DFID |
| Country | :Zimbabwe |
| Background: | Zimbabwe is implementing a comprehensive multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS. The Government declared HIV and AIDS a national emergency in 2002. Government has put in place a multi-sectoral response coordinated by the National AIDS Council (National AIDS Council Act 1999). The response still needs to be intensified to sustain the decline, and to address the sharply rising impacts of increasing AIDS-related OVC, and morbidity and mortality affecting all economic and population sectors.During 2007-2010, the ESP has been a significant source of funding for HIV and AIDS and has made an important contribution to the national response and scale up of core elements of the Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (ZNASP) as well as to delivery of HIV and AIDS services in the 16 ESP-supported districts. It is an efficient and flexible funding mechanism, which has enabled donors to support the ZNASP and other national policies and strategies and to respond to emergency needs. The ESP Working Group (WG) provides a valuable forum for donors, government and implementing partners to share information and ensures that the ESP is well coordinated and complements other donor-funded activities. |
| Objectives: | The objective of the review was to determine the impact ESP has had on i) reducing HIV transmission and ii) mitigating against the effects of HIV/AIDS on individuals and communities in Zimbabwe. Specific objectives included : Assess the impact of interventions on the Zimbabwean population, consider number of people being reached by the Programme. Data should be disaggregated as much as possible per intervention, gender, age group, disabilities; Analyse the cost effectiveness of the different approaches to reduce new infections. Analyse the cost effectiveness of the approaches taken by ESP to care, treat and support those infected and affected by HIV. Eg for HIV prevention – Behaviour change through individual, community and mass media methods; Analyse the relevance, impact and cost effectiveness of the model of delivery through UN agencies as implementing partners. Compare and contrast with other similar approaches (in the country and the region) such as the Global Fund set up and methods of reaching communities. The analysis should include evidence of value for money and quality of service in approaches being adopted; Identify the specific benefits and constraints of different approaches; and Highlight opportunities, challenges and lessons learned for the possible design of a future programme. |
| Activities: | The study activities included focus group discussions with beneficiaries of services, key informant interviews with donors, NGOs and other stakeholders, desk review and report writing. |
