Her Excellency Ambassador Debbie Birx, the

United States Global AIDS Coordinator, signed

the Approval Memorandum of the PEPFAR

Côte d'Ivoire Country Operation Plan (COP

2017) on April 26, 2017, in Johannesburg, South

Africa.

With a budget of US $ 160,180,308, about 96

billions FCFA, COP 2017, prepared by the PEP-

FAR Country Team Côte d'Ivoire, in collabora-

tion with the Ivorian government and other

partners, aims to achieving the goal of eliminat-

ing HIV by

2030.

It covers

the period

from

October

2017 to September

2018.

Ambassa-

dor Birx

signing of

the COP

memo

closed a

three-day

conference involving several countries benefiting

from the US President's Emergency Plan for the

AIDS Relief, (PEPFAR) after the final and com-

plete review of areas, strategies, and targets as

identified by each PEPFAR country team to

contribute to the elimination of HIV by 2030.

The session also provided an opportunity to

gather feedback from stakeholders at the coun-

try level. In Côte d'Ivoire, for instance the Na-

tional AIDS Program (PNLS) representing the

Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, UNAIDS,

the Global Fund, WHO, and members of civil

society representing people living with HIV and

key populations took part in the review.

Ambassador Birx congratulated the PEPFAR

Côte d'Ivoire Country Team for the quality of

their work. She encouraged them for a more in-

depth analysis of the results in support of pro-

grammatic decisions and the identification of

PEPFAR activities for vulnerable populations.

The adopted budget is $ 20 million higher than

last year’s budget. Ten million dollars of the

supplementary budget will be used to increase

the number of HIV-positive people initiating

antiretroviral therapy (ART) by more than 60%,

in line with the national plan targeting of at least

81% of the people living with HIV on ART by

2020. The remaining ten million will be used for

the implementation of a package of prevention

services based on the PEPFAR model called

"DREAMS" in some districts. This aims at reduc-

ing the incidence of HIV among adolescents

aged 10-19 years.

Finally, Côte d'Ivoire will benefit from an addi-

tional $3

million

dollars

budget to

develop

an innova-

tive Geo-

graphic Infor-

mation

Systems

(GIS)

project .

This effort

will make

it possible

to create

data use

platform to better guide programs towards

effective decision-making that will lead to an

AIDS-free generation. In this initial phase, the

project will focus on developing the infrastruc-

ture — setting up an open geospatial data

center.

May 2017

Côte D’Ivoire COP2017 approved:

96 billions FCFA to eliminate HIV The Coordinator’s Corner

News you can use

from PEPFAR Côte d’Ivoire

Dear PEPFAR

Implementing Partners

As you may have heard,

the PEPFAR Côte d’Ivoire

team and select partner

stakeholders returned

triumphant from Johannesburg, South Afri-

ca, in April 2017, with an approved COP

2017. I take this opportunity to thank the

Implementing Partners for your invaluable

contributions to COP development, provid-

ing input for targets as well as technical

approaches.

Every COP planning has its idiosyncrasies

and innovations. The preparation for COP

2017 was distinct for its accelerated plan-

ning period (one month shorter than the

previous COP, and about three months

shorter than COP 2015), as well as for the

expanded involvement of IPs, the Govern-

ment of Côte d’Ivoire, civil society organiza-

tions, and other technical/financial partners

such as UNAIDS, WHO, and UNICEF.

The monitoring of COP implementation –

starting already in COP 2016 – will also

involve increased IP engagement as the

PEPFAR Côte d’Ivoire team begins monthly

IP data reviews, instead of waiting until the

end of the implementation period at APR,

in order to continually course-correct and

refine our site-level approaches for greatest

impact. We strive, in this way, to help IPs

address challenges and barriers more im-

mediately.

As you have often heard, we have a small

window of opportunity to get to epidemic

control. Our diligence in working with IPs to

understand and address your successes

and your preoccupations, is key to curbing

the trajectory of the HIV epidemic in Côte

d’Ivoire.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Coordinator's Corner ……..… p.1

Côte d’Ivoire COP2017 approved ……..… p.1

Côte d’Ivoire CSOs participate in

COP17 closing panel ……….. P.2

Zuenoula social center inaugura-

tion ……….. P.2

PEPFAR Côte d’Ivoire team cele-

brates COP2017 approval ……..… p.3

US Chargé visits PEPFAR projects

in Bouaké ……..… p.3

Spotlight SIDA promotion out-

reach at Université Nord Sud in

Port-Bouet Vridi

……..… p.4

Staff in / out ……..… p.4

Sidjé Leontine Gaty from RIP+ and Kouamé Akoua Pélagie

from ROPC-CI represented Civil Society Organizations

(CSO) of Côte d’Ivoire at the FY 2017 Country Opera-

tion Plan (COP2017) review meeting from April 24-26,

2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

They had the opportunity to present the Early Warning

System - one of their success stories – to Ambassador

Birx the Global AIDS Coordinator and delegations from

all over the world during the COP17 closing plenary.

They voiced out their concerns during country level dis-

cussions and mainly advocated the need for mass aware-

ness campaigns as part of the prevention package, CSO

funding and the Community Health Workers status.

They acknowledged the strong collaboration with the

PEPFAR Côte d’Ivoire country team and their involve-

ment in the COP planning process and were grateful for

the invitation to attend this COP review.

Page 2

Sidjé Léontine, CSO representative presenting the Early Warning System for

drugs stock outs at COP 2017 Review closing plenary

Côte d’Ivoire CSOs participate in COP17 closing panel

Zuenoula Social Center Inauguration

On March 15, 2017, the Ministry of Women, Child Protection

and Solidarity (MFPES) through the National Orphans and Vul-

nerable Children (OVC) program (PNOEV) inaugurated the

renovation of a social center for OVC in the Commune of

Zuenoula as part of their collaboration with the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with PEPFAR support.

James Ham, Deputy Country Director for CDC Côte d’Ivoire

participated in the inauguration along with the Director of Cabi-

net of the MFPES, Mrs. Bosso Yvonne, the General Director of

Social Affairs of the Ministry of Employment, and Social Protec-

tion, M. Coulibaly Amara, and the Representative of the Presi-

dent of the Regional Council M. N’dri Koffi Dally (Head of the

Communication Department at the Regional Council).

In Zuenoula, there are over 1,200 estimated children and their

families impacted by HIV/ AIDS among which approximately 300

are supported by SEV-CI, one of CDC Implemented Partners,

through its local sub partner “Femmes Actives”. The Social Cen-

ter will serve as a place where the community of Zuenoula can

benefit from services and sensitization activities on the HIV/

AIDS issues and its impact on orphans, children, and families.

The local and national authorities and the beneficiaries were

very grateful for the support provided by the U.S. Government

and expressed their commitment to continue to work with

CDC for the sustainability of their activities.

CDC Deputy Director James Ham ( far left) cutting the ribbon with officials in

Zuenoula

PEPFAR upcoming events

June 6-22: SIMS visits

June 15: FY17 Q2 POART call with PEPFAR HQ

June 28: PEPFAR Stakeholders’ meeting

July 3: U.S. Embassy Independence Day event

July 4: Independence Day Holiday

July 10-13: SIMS visits

Watch Spotlight SIDA biweekly on RTI1 on Saturday at 14:30

PEPFAR Côte d’Ivoire team celebrates COP2017 Approval

Page 3

On May 2, 2017, the PEPFAR Côte d’Ivoire team gathered to celebrate their COP17 approval which took place on April 26, 2017

in Johannesburg, South Africa. A time of joy and relief that crowned months of planning, data analysis and endless preparation

meetings. A short break before this great interagency team faces upcoming challenges. More work, more commitment to achieve

the elimination of HIV/AIDS in Côte d’Ivoire by 2030

BEFORE COP 2017 REVIEW AFTER COP 2017 REVIEW

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Do you have a news item, an interesting story idea, a good photo, insightful commentary? Please share it

with us: thierryok@state.gov.

The U.S. Embassy

Chargé d’Affaires

Andrew Haviland

recommitted U.S.

support in the

fight against HIV

and AIDS in Côte

d’Ivoire during a

visit in April 2017

to several pro-

jects financed by

The President’s

Emergency Plan

for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

One of these projects included an activity implemented by the local

NGO called “CHEED”, that receives USAID/PEPFAR through the Re-

sources toward the Elimination of the Children’s Vulnerability” (REVE).

The local organization conducts training sessions for out of school

adolescent girls and young women who are Household members of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) due to HIV. The training

sessions called “Business Plus” begin with building basic literacy skills

before continuing with Economic-Strengthening activities. During

Chargé Haviland’s visit some beneficiaries aged 14 to 24 expressed

gratitude and contentment for the positive change in their daily lives

resulting from their participation in the training.

Chargé Haviland commended these young girls for seizing the oppor-

tunity to improve their living conditions. "Faced with challenges, we

must never lose courage,” he encouraged them. “The American people

are ready to help you if you show your good faith.”

This economic-strengthening intervention is one among many in an

integrated project that takes into account the health, education and

economic needs of households affected by HIV in Côte d'Ivoire, ac-

cording to Dr. Gisèle Semde-Abla, the Project Chief Of Party. REVE,

implemented by a consortium led by Save the Children Federation, Inc.

in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee, JHPIEGO,

and Palladium, provides care and support activities for orphans and

vulnerable children as well as adolescent girls and young women and

people living with HIV in six regions of Côte d’Ivoire.

Page 4

Chargé Haviland visits PEPFAR-funded project in Bouaké

On April 13, 2017, in the scope of the promotion of the PEPFAR spon-

sored Spotlight SIDA TV show, Voice of America (VoA) in collabora-

tion with the National TV Channel RTI1 and Université Nord-Sud in

Port-Bouet organized a blood drive and HIV testing among the students

of the school and the neighboring community.

The event started with

an awareness campaign

at the Port-bouet

market where sellers

and customers re-

ceived information on

HIV and were invited

to get tested and know

their status.

Linord Moudou, Chief

of Project at BBG/

VoA and producer/

host of multiple VoA

productions in

Washington, DC,

attended the out-

reach activity where

she praised VoA’s

successful collabora-

tion with PEPFAR.

The RTI recorded

an episode of Spot-

light SIDA, the PEP-

FAR HIIV awareness TV show with Mr. Malibu Yehiri from AIMAS as a

guest . He talked about HIV/AIDS among the youth and mainly the

students.

Spotlight SIDA promotion outreach at Université Nord Sud in Port-Bouet Vridi

Dr. Didier Adjoua joined the PEPFAR in April 2017

team as the DHAPP Coordinator in charge of the

military programs. Prior to Joining the PEPFAR team,

Dr. Adjoua was worked with an International NGO

for15 years.

Staff movements - New

Marie Ahmed is the Director of USAID/Côte d'Iv-

oire Health Office. She joined the team in March 2017

after serving in the same position in Rwanda.

Massogbé Sangaré Doumbia joined USAID Côte

d'Ivoire on March 6, 2017 as the Administrative Assis-

tant for the Health Office. Prior to joining the team,

Massogbé was working with the United Nations Opera-

tion in Côte d'Ivoire.

Carine Yelbi Traoré joined the PEPFAR Coordination

Office in April 2017 as the Monitoring and Reporting

Coordinator. She was previously working at Save the

Children Côte d’Ivoire.

Michelle Konin resigned

from her position as Health

Promotion Advisor with

USAID in March 2017.

Dr Diarrassouba Mamadou

joined the CDC DGHP GHSA

Cote d’Ivoire Program as its

Public Health Emergency Man-

agement Lead in May 2017.

Veronique Gbale, left her position as

the Administrative Assistant for the PEPFAR Care and Treatment Branch after nine years, to be the new Programs

Assistant with the Security Cooperation Office at the US Embassy.

Farewell