Upper Nile Conservation (UNCI) has been nominated as a service provider (NSP) to undertake the Consultancy Services for the provision of HIV/AIDS, Program, TB, Malaria, Child protection and gender sensitization, awareness and monitoring on the Construction of Masaka -Mutukula Road Project (89.5 Kms) Rehabilitation of Nyendo -Villa Maria Road(11kms) and access Roads (7kms) to Paved Standard UNCI,  works with (CICCO) the main contractor, the project works are  supervised by the MOWT on this Road project.

The objectives of the project as per the contract signed by the NSP include

(i) reduce the risk of transfer of HIV/AIDS virus among construction workers, their families and the local community;

(ii) raise awareness among construction workers and the local community on the risk of HIV/AIDS infection;

(iii) reduce stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS among construction workers and the local community;

(iv) promote voluntary early diagnosis in the contractor workforce and the neighboring local communities; assist affected individuals to access care, counseling and treatment; reduce gender-based discrimination and violence in the contractor’s workforce and the local communities through Gender Based Violence (GBV) awareness;

(v) promote gender and child protection awareness in the contractor’s work force and the local communities in project area and promote Health and safety including road safety in the contractor’s work force and local communities along the project area.

There are four major thematic focuses for NSP include

(1) HIV/AIDS/TB/Malaria awareness and control among the workforce and communities;

(2) gender mainstreaming and prevention of Gender Based Violence;

(3) Child Care and Protection; and

(4) Occupational/Community Health and Safety and other safeguard risks including
Malaria, TB and any other safeguard.

UNCI  applies well-tailored technical approaches and methodologies which will guide a series of the planned activities. UNCI has recruited staff with diverse professional specialties to implement tasks outlined in the contract in the areas HIV/AIDS/TB/Malaria/Gender, gender-based violence (GBV), violence against children (VAC) and occupational health and safety (OSH). UNCI conducts preliminary activities which include reconnaissance meetings, introduction/induction to the camp/project, inspection of site and the clinic facility.

UNCI has also conducted a situational analysis to get knowledge, attitudes and practices to inform the writing of the inception and the baseline reports. The information was obtained through the reconnaissance meetings at the camp site, institutional mapping and project area inspection. It was found out that the contractor has adequately mobilized project personnel with 30 foreign workers and 400 local workers, out of this number, 36 are female project workers. The welfare and motivation of the workers has been noted to be high around good hygiene and proper sanitation for the workers, the sanitary facilities. We have also noted that the site clinic is complete and operational. UNCI has recruited and deployed 5 staff to supplement the services of the contractor.

UNCI has produced and distributed  additional IEC materials to address the already observed inadequate IEC materials in the project area to provide adequate information on the issues of HIV, GBV and OHS in the project area as well as the distribution of condoms to the project workers immediately.
UNCI has mapped out institutions and stakeholders who have been and/or will be affected by the project. These institutions and stakeholders are in the areas of education, health, livestock, forestry and agriculture. UNCI mitigates the impact of projects on these institutions and stakeholders. It also works with local governments according to the decentralization policy, that is, from the district Level to the local council (LC), NGOs, CBOs, work closely with police, medical facilities to successfully undertake its tasks in the assignment.

UNCI conducted  a thorough review of existing relevant documents regarding the assignment. The
documents to be reviewed will include but not limited to environmental and social impact assessment
(ESIA), resettlement action plan (RAP), contractor’s workplace polices on: HIV/AIDS, Child Protection,
Gender Based Violence, violence against children (VAC), occupational safety and health (OSH) and the
Code of Conduct policy behaviors with the community.

UNCI  conducted a Baseline Condition Assessment Survey to assess conditions in the project area with
respect to HIV/AIDS, gender (including GBV), VAC/Child Protection, community and health and safety
issues and disseminated the findings to the stakeholders in the project area in relation to knowledge,
attitudes and practices on the thematic content. The purpose of this survey is to assess existing information on knowledge, attitudes and UNCI  applied both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis.

UNCI  operates a daily functional fully-fledged HIV/AIDS clinic on camp site. The clinic will be well equipped with essential medicines and treatment materials for contractors’ personnel and workers. A package of services are being provided at the HIV/AIDS clinic on construction site which will include treatment of STIs, first aid, HIV counselling and testing, post-exposure prophylaxis and risk reduction counselling as well as condom distribution and sensitization.

Other intervention activities  include sensitization and/ or awareness creation in the project areas about HIV/AIDS, Gender, gender-based violence (GBV), violence against children (VAC) and occupational health and safety (OSH). This is being done among the contractor’s workforce, community events (parties, funerals), community households, schools, health centers among others, while working closely with the identified /