Multi-Sectoral HIV/AIDS Project

The project in Malawi additional financing will create a three-year extension of the project closing date from September 30, 2009 to September 30, 2012.

The additional financing will continue to support and strengthen the national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Malawi in line with the Government’s National HIV and AIDS Action Framework (NAF). Like the original grant, this additional financing will contribute towards the implementation of the joint program of work agreed to in the context of the HIV/AIDS Sector Wide Approach (SWAP) in Malawi.

This project paper concern the approval of the Executive Directors for the following: (i) additional financing of the Multi-Sectoral AIDS Project for the scale-up of activities under the original financing; (ii) a modification in the wording of the original project development objective (PDO), in accordance with new regional requirements for HIV/AIDS operations; and (iii) a three-year extension of the project closing date from September 30, 2009 to September 30, 2012. No change in project components is planned.

The only change to the project’s implementation modalities involves the funds flow, with respect to holding the designated account at the Reserve Bank of Malawi, instead of a commercial bank. Implementation of activities under the original financing has been satisfactory, as per the requirement of BP 13.20. It is noted that the project has been largely in compliance with grant covenants and that earlier fiduciary challenges have been satisfactorily addressed. The additional financing will continue to support and strengthen the national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Malawi in line with the Government’s National HIV and AIDS Action Framework (NAF).

Like the original grant, this additional financing will contribute towards the implementation of the joint program of work agreed to in the context of the HIV/AIDS Sector Wide Approach (SWAP) in Malawi. This common funding mechanism for the HIV response has been operational since 2004. The Malawi HIV/AIDS pooled financing is jointly supported by the Government and multiple key development partners, including the World Bank.

The implementation status and results report (ISR) ratings for the PDO and overall implementation progress for the project have been consistently classified as ’satisfactory’ since effectiveness in 2004, and the original PDO’s are likely to be met by the scheduled end of the project.

Topics: AIDS, Governance, Health Care, healthcare, HIV and AIDS Action Framework, Malawi, Multi Sectoral, society, World Bank