PROJECT
Evaluation of Services for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, People Living with HIV/AIDS and Youth in Zambia (RAPIDS)

In Zambia, “RAPIDS” (Reaching HIV/AIDS Affected People with Integrated Development and Support) is an innovative approach to mitigating the impacts of the AIDS epidemic by scaling up integrated multisectoral community-based initiatives. The activities of RAPIDS are taking place on a national scale in all nine provinces of Zambia, aiming to reach over 50 districts by 2010. The RAPIDS approach is notable for its distinctive focus offering a holistic package of care and support services aimed at improving the quality of life of people who are living with HIV, children living within their households, and youth within their communities.

The Population Council is conducting an evaluation of RAPIDS services for AIDS-affected communities in Zambia. The quantitative and qualitative evaluation activities and accompanying operations research studies in six key sentinel sites are intended to provide practical results that will feed directly back into making tangible improvements to service delivery to better meet the needs of the study communities and similar sites across Zambia.

An initial assessment, conducted in 2005 during the early stages of RAPIDS implementation, establishes a baseline against which to measure subsequent changes during the time period of RAPIDS service implementation. The two subsequent rounds of follow-up activities in 2007 and 2009 will indicate whether there have been changes in the study sites that could be associated with the activities of RAPIDS and other intervention partners in the field, and will seek to derive lessons for the successful implementation of programs.

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Population Council researchers

Katie Schenk, Lewis Ndhlovu, Naomi Rutenberg

Non-Council collaborators

Africare

CARE Zambia

Catholic Relief Services

Expanded Church Response

Dennis Chiwele, Stephen Tembo, Grant Mulenga, Andson Nsune, Chozi Nkhata (RuralNet Associates Ltd, Zambia)

The Salvation Army

World Vision

Gregory Nshakankala (University Teaching Hospital)

Amos Banda, Getrude Mwape (University of Zambia)

Donor

US Agency for International Development

Publications/Resources
Council researchers' names appear in boldface type.

2008
Schenk, Katie D., Lewis Ndhlovu, Stephen Tembo, Andson Nsune, Chozi Nkhata, Batuke Walusiku, and Charlotte Watts. “Circumstances and motivations for fostering children in Zambia,” Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies 3(1): 78–84. (abstract) 

2006
Population Council (Katie D. Schenk, Lewis Ndhlovu et al.). 2006. "RAPIDS baseline survey report." Washington, DC and Lusaka: Population Council. (contact kschenk@popcouncil.org for a copy)

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