UNCLAS LILONGWE 000542

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/GAC
STATE FOR AF/S GALANEK
STATE FOR OIG/ISP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID KHIV SOCI MI HIV AIDS
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR PEPFAR GUIDANCE


1. Malawi is one of the USG Missions receiving more than $10
million in USG funding for HIV/AIDS programs. We understand
that Malawi and other posts in the "over $10 million"
category will have new reporting requirements, but to date
we have not received any formal notification from OGAC/State
of new requirements nor any official OGAC guidance on how to
proceed.


2. Post representatives attended the recent Annual Meeting
for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in Addis
Ababa on May 25. At the meeting, OGAC representatives
indicated that official cable guidance would be coming. We
look forward to receiving that cable soonest. During the
meeting post's representatives received an unofficial copy
of "Draft policy guidance for USG Supported HIV/AIDS
Bilateral Programs, Outside the 15 Focus Countries." This
document outlines several new requirements such as a Five
Year USG HIV Strategy and a Country Operating Plan (COP),
which are tentatively due December 1, 2005.


3. Post also received a visit from two senior
representatives from USAID and CDC on May 30-June 1, who
informed us of these new required documents. As a result,
we have developed a tentative timeline for completing the
USG HIV Strategy and the COP.


4. Post is seeking clarification on the following:

- When will the Strategy Guidance be finalized and
distributed to Missions?

- In order to develop a multi-year strategy for HIV/AIDS it
would be most helpful to have an estimated budget
allowance. Post is considering developing different funding
scenarios but awaits further guidance on 06 funding levels
which were to be announced June 15. What is the estimated
release of FY06 budget numbers?

- Post has heard conflicting information about the length of
the Strategy, is it a 4 or 5 year Strategy?

- It is Post's understanding that an Inter-agency Core Team
will be established and will be visiting each new "over $10
million" country. Please advise if a Core Team has been
selected and identify point of contact for Malawi. Please
advise if a Core Team visit to Malawi has been scheduled.
Post has reserved early September as an option for the Core
Team visit.

- The types of technical assistance needed to develop 5-year
strategies and Country Operational Plans (COP) were
discussed at the Addis meeting. Possible sources for this
technical assistance were also discussed. How will we
access this assistance, particularly the technical
assistance to develop and complete online entry of the
Malawi COP?


5. We would be most grateful for OGAC guidance by cable as
soon as possible.
GILMOUR