4203.0: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 - 2:30 PM

Abstract #5916

Contracting HIV/AIDS NGOs in Brazil

Catherine Connor, MBA, International Health Area, Abt Associates Inc, 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-718-3115, catherine_connor@abtassoc.com

NGOs have led the way in providing HIV/AIDS services, and extending the reach of national and international programs. Governments and donors would like to improve use of NGOs, however there is little information on the successful approaches to select, contract, and monitor NGOs. A case study was done on the successful experience in Brazil with the first World Bank loan (1993-98) for HIV/AIDS. More than $18M was distributed to 174 NGOs to implement 444 projects. The MOH established a unit dedicated to working with HIV/AIDS NGOs that conducted an annual competitive process to select projects in prevention, service delivery, and institutional development The MOH conducted a competitive selection process and executed a contract that delineated the rights and responsibilities of the NGO and the MOH. The MOH monitored NGO performance through quarterly progress reports, site visits, and a final report. The vast majority of projects met their objectives and reached their target populations, including 2,285 trainers formed; 840,435 condoms distributed; 14 adult day care homes maintained; 6,297 home visits; 21 videos produced. Success was enhanced by a) establishing a dedicated unit to work with the NGOs; b) mass mailings, website, site visits, and other efforts to maximize and facilitate communication with NGOs; c) World Bank loan funds and advocacy for the use of NGOs; d) existing NGO capacity to implement projects and comply with contractual terms, e) MOH training to increase NGO capacity. Some types of projects (e.g. service delivery) were more likely to succeed than others (e.g. outreach).

Learning Objectives: Participants will learn criteria used to select NGOs; mechanisms used to contract NGOs, how performance of the NGOs was monitored, what were keys to the success of the Brazil experience

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Contracting

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: World Bank Ministry of Health of Brazil USAID
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA