Common use of Project Background Clause in Contracts

Project Background. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have a long history of partnering their efforts with the aim to strengthen health priority areas in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Region. In 2007, PAHO and USAID signed a new three-year US$4 million regional partnership agreement to strengthen health systems in the context of Primary Health Care (PHC) and to improve the quality of services. The objective of the component on strengthening health systems in the context of PHC is to improve the steering role capacity of the National Health Authority (NHA) to develop policies and implement strategies that reduce fragmentation in health through the integration of services, public health capacity building and the creation of synergies between programs and systems. Outcomes focus on the following areas: improving the leadership of the NHA; strengthening health information systems; implementing comprehensive policies that promote universal access and effective interventions; and improving maternal and child health within the context of the continuum of care approach. The objective of the second component on improving quality of health services emphasizes the strengthening of national capacity to organize and develop appropriate and accessible quality health care services that are evidence-based and reflect recognized standards and best practices. Outcomes focus on the following areas: PHC accreditation processes; improved capacity for increased coverage of HIV, malaria and TB prevention, treatment and care among vulnerable populations; strengthening of communicable disease surveillance and response capacity, and the implementation of a Neonatal Regional Plan of Action. The PAHO-USAID collaboration contributes to four Strategic Objectives (SO) from the PAHO Strategic Plan 2008-2012, which are: • SO 2: To combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; • SO 4: To reduce morbidity and mortality and improve health during key stages of life, including pregnancy, childbirth, the neonatal period, childhood and adolescence, and improve sexual and reproductive health and promote active and healthy aging for all individuals;