Sustainable Transition / Handover of malaria TB and HIV Global Fund Grants

1. Sustainable Transition / Handover of malaria TB and HIV Global Fund Grants Republic of Sudan 2018 - 2020

2. Overview; Following the implementation of capacity development activities and the transition of the Global Fund Health System Strengthening (HSS) grant from UNDP to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in 2015, there is an agreed timeline for transitioning the remaining three Global Fund grants to the FMOH, during the period 2018-2020. UNDP and the FMOH are developing this Transition and Systems Development Plan to ensure the smooth handover of all three disease grants from UNDP to the FMOH, with no disruption to services being delivered. The plan focuses on: • Joint transition activities between the FMOH and UNDP including joint planning and review meetings; joint PU/DR development and joint assessment of transition and capacity development activities. • Further strengthening of FMOH systems to ensure they can absorb the increase in funding and the increase in data and its management that will happen as a result of the transition. Both UNDP and FMOH need to commit to the full implementation of this plan to achieve transition of all three grants from UNDP to the FMOH by the end of 2020.

3. Time Line • 2015 Institutional arrangements - three vertical programmes managing the Global Fund grants replaced by an ‘integrated model’ within the Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases Control Directorate (CNCDCD). • 2015 Directorate General of International Health and Planning (DGIHP) new PR for the HSS grant. CNCDCD SR for the Malaria, TB and HIV grants. • 2016 - 2017 Capacity Development Plan focused on supporting the new implementation arrangements with the aim of enhancing national implementers' capacity in their roles both as PR for the HSS grant and as SRs. • 2017 agreed by the Global Fund that; • the Malaria grant will handover to the FMOH from January 2018 • the TB grant transitioning as of 1 January 2020 • HIV from January 2021 • 2017 Q4 Review CD Plan 2016-2017. develop of Sustainable Transition Plan.

4. Transition Planning Review; • What areas within the FMOH still need capacity development support • What areas need additional strengthening; • To enable FMOH to become the PR for three more grants by 2021 • For FMOH to be managing significantly increased funds and data. • Identifying how activities for HIV and TB can be done jointly by UNDP and the FMOH as the new PR for the grants during the transition / handover period. Process; • The transition plan was developed through key informant interviews with the FMOH and UNDP, and a review of the 201-2017 Capacity Development Plan. • The key informant interviews included discussions on areas that would need a stronger focus during the transition / handover, along with prioritisation of activities.

5. Goal, Objectives and Expected Outcomes  The goal of the Transition Plan is to ensure a smooth transition of all three disease grants from UNDP to the FMOH, with no disruption to the delivery of services. This will be achieved by the following: • Joint transition activities between the FMOH and UNDP including joint planning and review meetings; joint PU/DR development and joint assessment of transition and capacity development activities. With oversight from the CCM and CSO involvement in HIV prevention. • Further capacity development of FMOH systems to ensure the key foundations are in place to support adequate management of the increase in funding and the increase in data that will happen as a result of the transition. The expected outcome is that all three grants will transition from UNDP to the FMOH by the end of 2020.

6. Transition Milestones • Recruitment of new FMOH PMU Staff completed in last quarter before each transition. • All operations and implementation manuals in place, based on national and Global Fund requirements and capacities required by PRs, endorsed by the FMOH and 100% of staff trained. • Joint planning and review meetings taken place every quarter with discussions held on managing all risks. • Joint PU/DR development of the TB and HIV transitioning grants taken place for one year. • Final implementation arrangements for HIV Prevention activities agreed and set up to ensure continuation of activities. • FMOH is coordinating quantification and procurement planning activities. • Data available on the last mile of the supply chain and managed by the FMOH, feeding into the planning and quantification activities.

7. Transition Milestones • NMSF has 100% of the required systems in place to act as the lead on procurement for the FMOH. • Financial systems are in place to support full programme implementation, with strong measurable controls and tracking tools; leading to 100% of PU/DRs being submitted on time with accurate financial information. • Financial data has been backed up successfully for 1 year. • 100% of assets are documented and annual asset verification processes are in place • DHIS2 system is fully configured for national responses and all Global Fund grants and has produced accurate programmatic data for one year. • CNCDCD has a dedicated M&E structure with 100% of staff trained in the SOPs. • 100% of PU/DR submitted on time; with accurate data. • All three disease National Strategic Plans are in place to support the next funding application.

8. Transition M&E • UNDP and the FMOH will document and report progress of the agreed work plans through joint periodic and planning reviews between UNDP, the FMOH PR PMU and the implementing FMOH directorates as well as other implementers. A periodic progress update report will be prepared by UNDP in coordination with the FMOH and shared with all stakeholders. • An annual assessment of the agreed milestones on the transition plan will be conducted to identify the achievements and results as well as the challenges and lessons learned, and to ensure the identification of any future support needed after the staggered transition of each grant.

9. Functional Areas The plan reviewed the key functional areas which are essential for strong management of Global Fund Programmes: • Programme Management • Procurement & Supply Management • Financial Management • Monitoring & Evaluation Essential activities which are required in the early stages of transition (2018 Q1), includes; • Supporting FMOH in developing a financial internal control framework. • The development of expenditure tracking tools. • Joint planning and review meetings for grants preparing to transition and joint preparation of PU/DRs. • Monitoring and Evaluation SOPs and tools and training. • Consolidated manual on malaria implementation for all 3 implementing Directorates.

10. Focus Areas • Finance: Support to systems strengthening of the PR, implementing directorates, SRs and SSRs (including states) to ensure strong financial management given the increase in funding. • Procurement: Support to NMSF to ensure their awareness of GF requirements and processes. • Supply Chain: Developing eLMIS for the last mile – better data and less stock-outs/wastage. • M&E: Coordination and integration of currently fragmented M&E functions within the key implementer CNCDCD. • HMIS: On-going support to the DHIS2 programme. • PR Management: Processes to manage (verify/account for) the funds when implemented by other MOH directorates, CSOs, States and Cost Sharing Arrangements ; Develop accountability mechanisms for state to federal, and feedback mechanisms for federal to state; Staff retention plan; Develop Communication Plans etc.