NIGERIA - HIV/AIDS ASSESSMENT

UNCLAS ABUJA 001079 SIPDIS USAID/W FOR GH/AA, ANN PETERSON, DUFF GILLESPIE AND FOR GH/HIV-AIDS, PAUL DELAY TAGS: NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA - HIV/AIDS ASSESSMENT ¶1. Summary: USAID/Nigeria would like to thank the Global Bureau for Health for their recent assistance in assessing our HIV/AIDS program. The participation of two US Direct Hires with critical distinct expertise contributed greatly to the successful analysis and cogent recommendations for the way forward. ¶2. USAID/Nigeria recently hosted a team of experts to assess our HIV/AIDS program, to determine progress to date and to make recommendations for the way forward so as to maximize U.S. dollar investment and program impact. Participating on the team were: international and Nigerian HIV/AIDS experts including Harriet Destler, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist; and Pam Wolf, Program Management Specialist, of the Global Bureau for Health's HIV/AIDS office. ¶3. Because of Ms. Destler and Ms. Wolf's understanding of HIV/AIDS within the context of USAID including USAID's comparative advantages, programming mechanisms and monitoring & evaluation requirements, they offered exceptional insights that are of considerable value to the Mission. USAID/Nigeria is at a critical juncture in its HIV/AIDS programming as it embarks on a strategic planning exercise that will determine program direction for the 2004 - 2009 time period. The recent HIV/AIDS assessment will not only lay the foundation for the Mission's HIV/AIDS strategy, but has also provided the Mission with important recommendations for adjustments to the current program. ¶4. In light of the above experience and in reference to the recent cable on support to the field from the GBH HIV/AIDS Office, USAID/Nigeria would like to reiterate its thanks and also indicate interest in further GBH assistance to our HIV/AIDS program. A subsequent cable will detail our further needs for assistance. JETER