The issue
The Government of Malawi has emphasized as priorities the identification of undiagnosed cases of HIV in the population, the expansion of access to HIV care and treatment, and the maintenance of high levels of adherence to antiretroviral treatment. One Community (One C) is the U. S. Agency for International Development’s flagship community-based response to Malawi’s HIV epidemic. Its primary objective is to support the government’s efforts to reduce new infections and to mitigate the impact of HIV, ultimately improving the quality of life for Malawians.
Our approach
Project SOAR is conducting an evaluation of One C through assessment of two cross-sectional surveys (2017 and 2018) in One C implementing areas, using areas in the baseline survey where interventions had not yet been implemented as control sites. The study will assess one-year key outcomes for each targeted population by One C. Qualitative research is also being conducted to provide a more nuanced understanding of the impact of One C on targeted populations.
The impact
The results from this evaluation will be used to inform Malawi’s support strategies for at-risk populations, improve U. S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Malawi programming, and inform the national Malawian and global PEPFAR policy agendas for HIV prevention, care, and treatment. These findings will be particularly relevant given that Malawi has a generalized HIV epidemic and that One C targets high risk populations and areas.