The HAPA Support Program - usaid

the above activities are relatively straightforward...and each one requires only
limited, definable areas of expertise.
Duration ofgrants
The short funding period of the HAPA grants program and lack of follow-on money for the
projects after the initial two years was a frustration addressed by the TAG. One TAG
member stated, "A.I.D. should have asked the TAG to at least designate one or two types of
projects for priority funding for follow-up activities. It Anotller person expressed the problem
by saying that "even though the HAPApeople at A.J.D. explained that the grant program
was just to try out [funding of PVO AIDS prevention projects], the reality is that field staff
cannot hustle for additional money during a two-year implementation period. AIDS does not
go away in two years, and thus projects need to be funded for a longer period of time. It
takes time for projects to set up a network with the MOH. Lack of follow-on funding is a
huge disappointment to the field, local NGOs and the local people. Donors are thinking in
terms of congressional funding cycles when they design grants programs versus the reality of
field implementation. " .
Another TAG member stated, "I was shocked to learn that A.LD. felt no responsibility to
carry on the HAPA program.... A.I.D. did not see...that by supporting the PYO
headquarters the PYOs could have leveraged AIDS prevention components into their
hundreds of other PVO projects in Africa.... A.LD. did not view HAPA as a program.
They only envisioned a series of projects to fund and then see what would happen....
Therefore the funding for HAPA quit."
Another said, "One problem with the HAPA projects was that the PVOs were asked to do
what they had not done before and in a very short period of time. This was not like child
survival, introducing vaccines or oral rehydration therapies, because the AIDS interventions
were new. Another problem was that some PYOs were new in the project areas. The more
successful projects occurred where the PVOs already had an established structure. [But] all
the projects needed more time than they were given. It
HIVIAIDS prevention and treatment ofsexually transmitted diseases
Some TAG comments were focused on the potential value of more heavily emphasizing the
prevention, recognition and treatment of common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as a
part of mvIAIDS prevention efforts. They felt that some of the constraints and barriers to
AIDS education in Africa might be addressed in future projects by an increased focus on the
commonly known, treatable STDs. The rationale given was that since many populations
appear to have difficulty responding to information about my infection because of the long
latency period between HIY and AIDS, projects should also Itfocus on STD content and
linkages to my infection - people know them; when they see them, they should be treated;
with untreated STDs it is easier to transmit and get HIV. Then, 'practice safe sex' is the
common primary prevention message [applicable to prevention of HIV and other STDs]. It
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