The HAPA Support Program - usaid

She suggested that direct project TA might be a better use of resources than bringing people
in to attend TAG meetings, organizing the meetings and writing the reports. Reflecting on
the influence of the TAG, she questioned the actual application by the projects of
recommendations made by the TAG. "The TAG might have been more influential if we [the
TAG] had been more involved with project design.... The opinions of the TAG members
were listened to and valued. Yet, the system was not flexible enough to translate what the
TAG said in meetings into action in the field. It
Countering the above arguments one TAG member said, "It would have been good to have
more staff to go to Africa, but the TAG would still be needed. In such a rapidly changing,
undeveloped field of public health as heterosexual AIDS prevention in developing countries,
a TAG is especially needed to keep the project up-to-date on new strategies and
developments. I;
Operations ofthe TAG
Contact between TAG members and HAPA Support Program staff was described in positive
terms. The accessibility and openness of HSP staff were noted, as well as the usefulness of
the newsletter published by HSP. One member stated, "The HSP did a good job in the two
years' time.... The TAG meetings were very open to people's comments and informal
contact was available. What more can be done?"
The HAPA TAG met twice yearly, and this was generally seen to be adequate but not
excessive. Although more meetings might have been useful, most TAG members
acknowledged that they would have had difficulty contributing more time to TAG meetings
than what was requested. Discussions between the TAG and staff from the PYO
headquarters involved in HAPA projects occurred only at the final TAG meeting. In
retrospect, one PYO staff member said that she liked having the opportunity to talk with
TAG members and to talk with other pva headquarters staff about lessons learned and
wishes she "could have been at [a TAG] meeting a year earlier."
Review offield project reports
The individuals on the TAG met initially for technical review of project proposals; projects
selected by A.I.D. for funding were sent a summary of the group's comments on the
proposals at the time of the funding award. The TAG later reviewed detailed implementation
plans, midterm progress reports and final evaluations for all the newly funded projects, ·and
HSP staff compiled and provided summaries of TAG comments to the projects. Every three
months the projects also submitted brief quarterly technical reports, which HSP staff
summarized in a newsletter, The HAPA Grants Program Update, and sent to field staff as
well as to the TAG.
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