Committee of Sponsoring Agencies (CSA): report of the hundred and sixth session, World Bank HQs, Washington D.C., 20 and 22 June 2004

RESTRICTED APOC CSA 106 THE AF'RICAN PROGRAMME FOR ONCHOCERCIASIS CONTROL (APOC) COMMITTEE OF SPONSORING AGENCIES (CSA) Report of the hundred and sixth session World Bank HQs, Washington D.C., 20 and 22 June 2004 ; { E ll 2 ittltr jii{i{ IC. A. OPENING OF THB SESSION 1' The 106ft session of CSA was held on 20 and22 June at the World Bank headquarters in conjunction with the APoc Donors' conference, chaired by Bruce Benton. B. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA 2. The draft agenda was approved without modifications. APPROVAL OF THE CSAlOs REPORT AND MATTERS ARISING THEREFROM 3. paras 7-11: It was expected that the findings of a scheduled investigation mission to the DRC would help clarifr the real cause of the reported Severe Adverse Events (SAEs) that occurred there. In the meantime, interim measures had been agreed upon by all partners as to how to implement ivermectin treatment in those areas. 4. Section D: It was reported that the Special ad hoc Committee (SAC) for the Special Intervention Zone (SIZ) would undertake the Mid-term Review of the SZ scheduled foi luly 2005 which was estimated to cost $130 000 forthe 7-8 weeks activity. It was suggested that part of the cost could be covered by the SZ budget and a proposal submitted to the BGF (Bill Gates Foundation?) for the other part. Otherwise, the total cost should be budgeted for in the 2005 Plan of Action and Budget for the SZ against refund. It was warned that this would increase the overall SZ budget from $12 million to $12.l milrion. 5. Para 18: the plarured meeting on the Multidisease Surveillance Centre (MDSC) was scheduled to take place from 7-8 July 2004 and thus no report could be presented to the Donors' Conference. It was agreed that Dr Samba would answer any questiori fro* donors on the status of the MDSC. 6. Section H: It was reporled that 3 more experts remained to be recruited to complete the team for the Extemal Evaluation in 2005. The Terms of Reference (TORs) *... ,.udy 1S"" also paragraphs l5 and 27). 7 Para 26: the presentation on onchocerciasis control activities in Africa at the Shanghai Conference was very well received. The lessons learned directly addressed 3 MDGs and were to be referred to in the initial remarks at the Donors' Conference. There was also to be a follow-up on this at JAFI0 in December 2004. 8. Sections M & N: Bruce Benton had contacted UNDP by telephone and Jacque Loup was expected to attend the Donors' Conference the first day, at least. Bruce had not yet contacted FAO who, it was believed, had a role to play in APOC activities unless it wanted toquit CSA in which case it should inform the Committee officially. Bruce was to write to FAO to follow up on the issue. 29. Para32:. RAPLOA studies had been completed and the results were now available. 10. Section Q: The CDTI structure was seen as best for improving and expanding coverage of Vitamin A supplementation. A recommendation was to be made at the Donors, Conference in that regard. 11. Para 39: CSA was informed that the controversial article on the impact of OCp activities on disease transmission had been published in the Lancet. Although, it was animproved version it still contained wrong data. It was suggested that proper airalysis of the data be done. 12. The report of the l05th session of CSA was adopted without any modifications. D. REVIEW OF THE AGENDA OF THE DONORS' CONFERENCE 13. Much of the discussion on this item centered around preparations for the Donors, Conference. The agenda of the Conference was reviewed in detail and the role of CSA Members and various presenters was discussed to ensure clarity in presentations. particular attention was given to the structure and content to be included in the Final Communique of which a copy is herewith attached. 14. It was indicated that one of the unmentioned and hidden objectives of the Conference was "keeping the donors together" and presenters were .n"orrugLd to use a language that conveyed that message to the donors. It was also agreed that a clear message to send out to donors was that: for doing so; E. UPDATES: 15. The APOC External Evaluation: the TORs were being finalized and would be circulated for final approval at the JAF in December 2005. Membership of the Evaluatio, Team was to include a health systems expert (team leader), an entomoiogist, an expert on administration and finance, an epidemiologist, an economist and a socio-anthropologist. See also paragraph 27 below. 16. The Community-directed Intervention (CDI) studies were just starting. The status of the proposal submitted to the Gates Foundation was still unclear. Bemhard Liese was to follow up on this. 3F. OUTCOME OF THE DONORS' CONFERENCE AND IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN 17 ' A request from the Netherlands, which was also supported by Norway, for results- based reporting, i.e. the need to link APOC budget allocation with output, e.g. number ofprojects, number of treatments, or number of add-ons, visible reduction i'n disease, etc., was discussed in detailed. l8' It was explained that the information requested by the Netherlands was largely contained in APOC documents presented to JAF sessions which participants at the Donors, Conference did not have. In future such information should be packag"O i, a more visibleformat for donors, e.g. graphs showing the reduction in microfilariae were well appreciated. The request was to be dealt with without delay. 19. It was noted that the ongoing cost per treatment study was well received by the Netherlands and all donors. 20. It was also reported that Norway was asking Bruce and Azodoga to return to Oslo to make another presentation on Apoc (in an attempt to secure some funding). 21' APOC acknowledged that a study on the global burden of onchocercal disease had been requested since ayer and a half but had not been undertaken yet. 22. With regard to add-on of vitamin A to CDTI, it was suggested that Micronutrientlnitiative (MI) should draw up a concept paper on 4 selected countries for the pilot studies(DRC, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania) which the NoTFs and ApoC Management would review at some point and come up with a plan of action for the consideration of TCC. If needbe a joint exploratory visit by MI and APOC Management to the countries could be undertaken later to fine-tune the concept paper. 23. It was suggested that MI be invited to JAFIO in Kinshasa where it would present the concept paper. 24' CSA agreed that Guinea be also invited to JAF10 to present its experience in reproductive health service delivery through the CDTI structure. Bruce informed that KhamaRogo of the World Bank would be prepared to make a presentation on the issue to JAFI0 if necessary. 25' Ensuing from concerns from some donors about the high number of sustainabilityplans to be reviewed by APoC Management, it was agreed that ApoC would look into ways of simplifying the sustainability plans. 26' Much discussion was also done on government budgeting ancl fundir-rg of onchocerciasis activities. The suggestion was that countries be encoura[ed to use pRSp orSWAP for funding activities rather than a specific budget line for APOC activities which in some cases even penalized project funding. {i 4 G 27. It was reported that some donors were getting anxious about the slow progress of the preparations for the 2005 APOC External Evaluation which was estimated to cost $300 000.The Evaluation Team was to consist ofl an entomologist (Bernard philippon), an administration and finance expert (George Koulischer), a health economist, an anthropologisUsociologist, an epidemiologist and perhaps a SWAp specialist. REPORT ON THE SECOND SESSION OF THE SPECIAL AD HOC COMMITTEE (SAC) OF'THE EX-OCP SPECIAL INTERVENTION ZONES(sIZ) 28. This item was presented at the Donors' Conference and thus was not deemed necessary discussing again at CSA. See also paragraph 4 above. H. DATES AND \TENUES OF CSA1O7 AND CSA1O8 29. At the closure of the meeting, it was decided to hold CSAIO7 in paris from ll-13 October 2004.In the meantime alrangements in Paris did not conclude and CSAl07 will now be held at the headquarters of WHO in Geneva from ll-13 October 2004. CSAI08 will be held in conjunction with JAFI0 in Kinshasa, DRC. 5l. 2. aJ. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Bruce Benton, World Bank Bernhard Liese, World Bank Adrian Hopkins, NGDO Chair, CBM Ken Gustavsen, Merck & Co. Inc. Azodoga S6k6t6li, Director APOC, Laurent Yameogo, APOC Mounkaila Noma, APOC Uche Amazigo, APOC Koffi Benoit Agblewonu, ApOC Sam Bugri, MDSC, Ouagadougou Hiroyoshi Endo, CPE Hans Remme, TDR/IDE Tony Ukety, NGDO Coordinator, WHO/pBL Ole Christensen, AFRO/APOC Liaison Abdulai Daribi, AFRO/APOC Liaison Dominic Schofield, MI Catherine Cross, SSI Elizabeth Elhassan, SSI Musa Obadiah, HKI Jonathan Jiya, NOTFAIIi geria Francesca Olumiju, MITOSATH Ekanem Braide, TCC chair Jesse Bump, World Bank Kyalo Kibua, World Bank Christina Novinskey, World Bank Katherine Allen, World Bank