The Kingdom of Swaziland, a small country of 1.2 million people located between South Africa and Mozambique, is a mountainous country with deeply rooted traditions. Its unique social and economic legacy has contributed to the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world, with over 26% of the sexually active population infected. Swaziland also has highest rate of tuberculousis infection which is the leading cause of death. Profound gender inequities exist in Swaziland, and weaknesses in public accountability present challenges for preventing and treating people living with HIV/AIDs and their dependents.

Pact Swaziland aims to build a coordinated and effective response by the government of Swaziland, international actors and local organizations in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Pact has two programs currently running in Swaziland, USAID’s South Africa’s Regional HIV/AIDS Program (RHAP), and a project funded by the Center for Disease Control in partnership with Columbia University’s International Center for AIDS Prevention and Treatment Program (ICAP).

Pact began USAID South Africa’s RHAP in March 2010. The purpose of this project is to fund HIV/AIDS grants to local and international Non-Governmental Organizations, Faith-Based Organizations and community-based organizations. Pact supports well established organizations and nascent organizations across a variety of sectors who play valuable roles in the fight against the disease. With grants and targeted capacity building services, Pact enables our partners to effectively combat HIV/AIDS, network with other organizations and local governments, and build sustainable practices. The RHAP also includes a relatively new and innovative “Gender Challenge” component in which gender norms are challenged via strategic partnerships with traditional authorities, interventions to expose and prevent gender-based violence, and investments in supporting women’s livelihoods at a community level. The RHAP program contributes to the achievement of national and international goals, such as the Swaziland Partnership Framework on HIV/AIDS, PEPFAR Country Operational Plan, and the National Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS 2009-2014.

As part of the program funded by the Center for Disease Control, Pact is collaborating with ICAP to build the capacity of the Government of Swaziland’s Ministry of Health’s Regional Health Management Teams (RHMT). Pact is working to enable these teams to play a stronger role in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of comprehensive HIV services throughout the country. Through strengthened human resources, administrative, and financial management systems, Pact hopes to enable a more coordinated and effective response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. Pact is also supporting ICAP program staff to develop a sub-contract management systems and capacity in Swaziland.