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3. STRATEGIC PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT
Each PEPFAR country program is responsible for developing a strategic portfolio that includes prioritized and focused interventions
that address hildre ’s ost riti al are eeds. In a world of limited resources and a multitude of children in need, prioritization and focus are critical.
The impact of the AIDS pandemic on hild e s ell-being differs across individuals, communities, and
countries. Similarly, a hild s isk of o t a ti g HIV o of e pe ie i g pa e tal loss also varies across
epidemics. Strategic portfolio development is predicated on having an evidenced-based understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by children and families within a specific country
context as well as an informed perspective of the existing and potential capacity of partners to respond.
Buildi g o the fou k o s outli ed i the PEPFA‘ se ual p e e tio guida e, the evidence required by programs to inform an effective plan of support is outlined below. The additional
fifth k o speaks to the need for clarity on child risk factors that often underlie and impact HIV specific effects.
3.1 Gather and Analyze the Evidence: The Five Knows The Fi e K o s outli ed elo help to set the pa a ete s of the po tfolio as ell as ide tif ke
priorities particularly at national level.
1. Know your epidemic
: Child e s ul e a ility to the impacts of HIVAIDS differs by epidemic. Where transmission occurs primarily between marginalized populations, children may face more intense stigma
and discrimination than their counterparts in hyper-epidemics, where almost every family has been in some way touched by AIDS. Conversely, the larger group of children made vulnerable by all causes in
more concentrated epidemics are less likely to be exposed to HIV infection. Knowing where HIV epide i hotspots a e geog aphi all lo ated and understanding the drivers of the epidemic and how
these drivers affect societal perceptions and risk profiles can help programs plan appropriately.
2. Know your children:
Kategori