Public Affairs Section

FY 2008 Mini-COP Guidance Updates
July 27, 2007

This week’s update contains important information on the following:
• Sharing mini-COP Guidance with partners
• Wraparounds
• Program area summary character limit
• Staffing for Results
• Male Circumcision Supplemental

Items in bold are new for this week. 

Mini-COP Guidance

Page 4:  Can the mini-COP Guidance be shared with partners?

Yes, the mini-COP Guidance may be shared with partners, but please keep in mind that the mini-COP Guidance was written for a USG audience and is not intended for the general public. 

Page 16 – Wraparounds:

Wraparound collaborations are not required; however, we encourage country teams to look for ways to work with wraparound programs that are already active in your country.

Page 18 – Global Fund Technical Assistance:

Technical Assistance to the Global Fund can be funded either by country teams - using the field budget - or with headquarters central funds. 

The Global Fund Core Group is finishing an evaluation of last year’s TA process, and will send out revised guidelines for the upcoming year shortly.  We encourage you to start thinking and planning now.  If you have specific questions, please contact Ann Lion (lionak@state.gov). 

Page 60 – Program Area Summary Character Length:

The character limit for the program area narratives has also been increased to 10,000 characters, to allow updates without cutting text that remains current. 

Page 89 – Staffing for Results

Per the mini-COP guidance, attached are the functional staffing chart templates and staffing spreadsheet for your use.  The chart and spreadsheet will be submitted as supporting documents to inform the information in Table 3.3.15.  They should serve as tools to manage the staffing data and help inform the SFR process in each country.  The tools will capture all staff working at least 10% of their time on PEPFAR to gain a truer picture of the USG PEPFAR footprint.  Please see the mini-COP guidance (p. 93-96) for instructions on how to complete the staffing analysis tools.

Please also note there was an error on p. 90 of the guidance.  Agency management charts are NOT required for mini-COP countries.  If you have any questions about the chart or spreadsheet, please contact Sara Allinder (AllinderSM@state.gov).

Appendices

Appendix 16:  Male Circumcision Supplemental:

In anticipation of Congressional requests, other inquiries, and the need to better understand each country’s male circumcision approach, we are asking all countries working on male circumcision to complete a short supplemental table.  If you check the male circumcision emphasis area, please make sure you include a line item in the supplemental.

This document can be downloaded from the mini-COP Planning section of the Extranet.

Instructions

Component: Within the area of male circumcision, there are several component areas.  Please select the appropriate area from the drop-down menu.  If an activity has multiple component areas, please enter each component area as a separate line item.  

The component areas and definitions are:

Communications
Activities that seek to provide information regarding male circumcision for HIV prevention. Communication approaches can occur at the national level, such as media campaigns that encourage safe male circumcision as part of a comprehensive approach to prevention, as well as local and inter-personal communication strategies. Information about safety, quality and the need for a combination approach to male circumcision interventions is critical, especially for countries engaging in service delivery activities.
 
Formative work (or Needs Assessment)
There is a variety of formative work needed prior to engaging in male circumcision services for HIV prevention. These types of activities can include; clinic and community assessments, stake-holder meetings, feasibility studies, demand assessments, etc. Countries engaging in these types of activities are encouraged to utilize the WHO Assessment Tool Kit.
 
Policy
Activities related to policy work include support of National Male Circumcision Steering Committees, development of policy, stake-holder meetings between policy makers, donor coordination, etc.  Policy activities can also relate to what cadre of health care provider is able to perform and provide male circumcision surgeries.  PEPFAR must follow the lead of host country governments and WHO/UNAIDS in support of policy activities.
 
Service Delivery
Male circumcision services must be delivered within a clinical setting, as part of a comprehensive package of prevention services, which should include: provider initiated and delivered HIV counseling and testing; active exclusion of symptomatic STIs and syndromic treatment when required; counseling on behavior change; including a gender component that addresses male norms and behaviors; provision of condoms and counseling on their correct and consistent use; reduction of number and concurrency of sexual partners and delay/abstaining from sexual activity (ABC).  Male circumcision services are currently not recommended for men who are HIV-positive; all male circumcision service delivery sites must have active referral systems in place for those individuals who test HIV-positive.
 
Training
Male circumcision-related training activities can include training of health care professionals to perform the surgical procedure, training of trainers, establishing training curricula, developing pre- and in-service training strategies and approaches, and monitoring quality of services by trained personnel. All countries are encouraged to utilize the WHO Male Circumcision Training Manual.  Tracking of quality and adverse events is necessary for all programs supporting male circumcision service delivery.
 
Work with Traditional Providers
PEPFAR funds may not be used to support the provision of male circumcision in traditional settings, outside of clinical facilities. However, working with traditional providers can be very important and provide an opportunity for prevention interventions. Activities associated with traditional providers can include;  provision of information on safety; links with clinical male circumcision service sites, and support for other prevention interventions, such as behavior change counseling interventions.
 
Evaluation
Some male circumcision activities may be directly related to evaluation of approaches, such as assessment of behavioral disinhibition among men who undergo male circumcision for HIV prevention. Evaluation activities that track uptake, quality, approaches, adverse events, etc., should all be captured under this component. All activities related to evaluation must include a specific protocol and follow the PHE activity narrative format.

Activity ID: Enter the COPRS activity ID

Mechanism ID: Enter the COPRS mechanism ID

Agency:  Select the agency from the drop-down menu.

Funding Source: Select the funding source from the drop-down menu.

Prime Partner:  Enter the full prime partner name (no acronyms).

Program Area:  Select the COP Program Area from the drop-down menu.

Brief Description:  Write a short paragraph about the activity and component area, mentioning whether the project is being co-funded by another donor.  Feel free to cut and paste from the activity narrative in the COP.

Planned Funding:  Enter the planned funding for the component area in whole US Dollars.