37 Since Dr. Castro’s last TA visit, a memorandum of understanding MOU between TKCP and
MSI has been drafted for the provision of long-term FP methods to YUS project sites. The MOU is awaiting signature from both parties. Meanwhile, arrangements have been made with the
HEWs from Gangalut and Sapmanga—two key health centers located in the YUS region—as the strategic venues where MSI and TKCP can provide future permanent and surgical FP methods.
In the meantime, the trained YUS community HEWs are educating the community about long- term methods and collecting a list of interested FP users. The IEC poster will be printed and
distributed during the next reporting period. Also, the trained TOT participants will recruit and train APEs during the months of August and September 2012.
A streamlined version of the BMS instrument was also introduced for TKCP to gather additional changes in behavior in the community as a result of the project. The project team arranged for
the APEs to use the form to collect data in the village every quarter and during their community meetings. The completed mini-BMS form will then be submitted to the Community Health
Worker who will report the results to TKCP every three months. This will be in addition to the existing Nation Health Information System-Aidpost Monthly Summary data tally sheets that are
collected for the Morobe Provincial Health Division. Because of the short duration of the project and the reduced seed grant funding, the YPE TOT
will not be conducted. Instead, YPEs will be identified and trained by the health workers who participated in the TOT with supervision from BALANCED key staff in the next reporting
period. Results from Activity 3.5
• TKCP incorporating PHE CBDPE system into their organization SO-1 • 5 people trained on BCC and IEC materials development 1.1
• 10 people trained on PHE PECBD systems 1.1 • 2 technical assistance visits to TKCP 1.4b.
• TKCP replicating CBDPE systems and BMS into their activities in PNG 3.1
3.6 Provide seed grant and technical support to VEDCO and Bwindi Mgahinga
Conservation Trust in Uganda
The BALANCED Project is providing seed grant funding and technical assistance to two organizations in Uganda to incorporate family planning into their conservation and health project
activities –Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust BMCT and Volunteer Efforts for Development Concerns VEDCO. During this reporting period, the BALANCED EAC travelled
to Uganda to provide technical assistance to both of these seed grant recipients. BMCT
BMCT was established in March 1994 with a capital endowment fund of US 4.3 million from the Global Environmental Facility to provide long-term reliable support for projects promoting
38 research or conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of natural resources in the
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park MGNP and the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park BINP. It is also tasked with promoting the welfare of neighboring communities. BALANCED is
providing seed grant funding and technical support to BMCT to implement the integrated project, Integrated Community Conservation and Development for a Healthy Population around
Bwindi Conservation Area
. The project enables communities in the Kanungu district to manage their resources in ways that improve their health and livelihoods, while conserving the Bwindi
critical ecosystem upon which they depend. Two BMCT staff persons attended the December 2012 PHE Program Design workshop held in
Senegal. During this reporting period, the EAC traveled to Uganda and conducted a TOT on CBDPE systems for a total of 19 11 male, 8 female BMCT staff, government partners and
community trainers on January 16 to 20, 2012. Dr. Hernandez also helped BMCT to fine-tune its detailed implementation plan DIP to accommodate for the reduction in funding resulting from
losses incurred from the fall in the Shillingi to US dollar exchange rate. During this process, it was agreed that MOUs will be developed with Pathfinder International’s Reproductive Health
Uganda and MSI for FP referrals and a source of FP commodities. It was also decided not to sell contraceptive methods because existing government village health teams VHTs already
distribute FP commodities for free. The VHTs will be trained as PEs cum CBDs who distribute FP commodities albeit for free. Since the EAC’s technical assistance visit, BMCT accomplished
the following during this reporting period:
• Collaborated with Pathfinder Uganda, CTPH and the MOH to secure IEC materials for distribution to the community change agents.
• Conducted 50 community sensitization meetings in the four parishes of Barangara, Kyeshero, Rutendere and Eastern Ward. A total of 1,136 people were reached during these IEC
meetings. • The baseline survey and training of APEs will occur during the next reporting period.
VEDCO VEDCO is an indigenous NGO established in 1989 as a self-help organization working with
other relief organizations to support communities to access basic needs, particularly safe water, adequate food and health care. VEDCO is currently implementing a five-year strategic plan
2010-2014 whose goal is “equitable wealth creation among farmers in Uganda.” BALANCED is providing them with seed grant funding and technical assistance support to implement the
Improving livelihoods through increased access to Reproductive Health services among farmers project. The goal of the 18-month seed grant support is to improve access to and use of family
planning in the agriculture-dependent districts of Nakaseke, Moyo and Yumbe. The integrated PHE intervention has the potential to reach a total population of 529,221.
In December 2011, two VEDCO staff participated in the BALANCED PHE Program Design workshop that took place in Senegal. During this reporting period, the EAC conducted a TOT on
CBDPE systems with VEDCO from January 23 to 27. A total of total of 15 7 male, 8 female VECO staff and community trainers attended the workshop. After the workshop, the EAC also
39 helped VEDCO refine its PHE implementation plan. Subsequent to Dr. Hernandez’s technical
assistance visit, VEDCO implemented the following: • Conducted three inception meetings in each of the districts where the seed grant activities are
being conducted. The meetings were to increase the community’s understanding of the value of PHE integration to their families and communities. A total number of 68 people 52 male,
16 female—members of the local government, parish and at the village level—attended the meetings.
• Trained 65 36 male, 29 female APEs. Of these, 50 APEs are actively involved in providing information on PHE linkages and FP to the community.
• Drafted an MOA with the Uganda Health Marketing Group for CBDs to sell FP commodities at subsidized prices. Meanwhile, the project’s APEs will refer potential FP clients to the
MOH clinics for screening and FP methods. Simultaneously, the project is working with the MOH to translate the referral forms into the local language.
Results from Activity 3.6 • 34 18 male, 16 female participants 15 from VEDCO and 19 from BCMT trained on
PHE CBDPE systems 1.1 • 65 36 male, 29 female VEDCO APEs trained on PHE PECBD systems 1.1
• 8 VEDCO trainees training APEs 1.2 • 2 technical assistance visits 1 to VEDCO and 1 to BMCT made 1.4b
• VEDCO replicating CBDPE systems into their activities in Uganda 3.1
3.7 Implement recommendations from the Glacier Melt Study
