SAUTI Project

It focused to improve health status of all Tanzanians through a sustained reduction in new HIV infections.

The SAUTI Project, implemented between 2016 and 2019, was a significant initiative aimed at improving the health status of Tanzanians by reducing new HIV infections. Funded by USAID and PEPFAR, and led by Jhpiego in partnership with EngenderHealth, PACT, and the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) Mwanza, the project was designed to support Tanzania’s national commitment to HIV prevention. SAUTI provided a comprehensive package of services, including biomedical, behavioral, and structural interventions, to ensure key and vulnerable populations had access to high-quality, client-centered healthcare. The project specifically targeted vulnerable populations, adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), and other high-risk groups in Temeke, Kinondoni, and Kigamboni districts, ensuring they received tailored HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services alongside family planning and gender-based violence (GBV) support. ASUTA played a crucial role in implementing the SAUTI Project by offering services that aimed to empower and protect vulnerable adolescent girls and young women. The organization focused on advocating for social protection, creating safe spaces, and providing economic empowerment opportunities. Through a combination of interventions, ASUTA worked to ensure that AGYW and vulnerable groups had access to critical health services, including HIV testing and linkage to care, STI screening and treatment, family planning, and counseling. Beyond healthcare services, the project integrated economic and social interventions designed to foster behavior change, increase awareness, and promote gender equality. One of the key components of ASUTA’s involvement in SAUTI was conducting community mapping to identify hotspots and locations where beneficiaries were most in need of services. The organization implemented community-based behavioral change education, addressing vulnerabilities related to HIV and family planning while challenging harmful gender norms. Additionally, ASUTA created demand for biomedical and social services, assisting in tracking and linking HIV-infected individuals, GBV survivors, and those needing family planning services to appropriate healthcare and support centers. Through mobile outreach programs, ASUTA brought biomedical services directly to communities, ensuring that KVPs received critical healthcare interventions. Social and behavioral change communication (SBCC) was a fundamental approach used in the SAUTI Project to promote safer sexual behaviors and increase uptake of HIV prevention services. ASUTA played a leading role in delivering SBCC interventions at the community level, using a combination of peer education, targeted information materials, and condom distribution to reach vulnerable populations. Community-based HIV service providers (CBHSPs) were instrumental in mobilizing demand for services, offering peer support, and tracking individuals who needed follow-up care. Additionally, ASUTA integrated gender-transformative approaches into its activities, using edutainment events such as soccer tournaments to engage young men in discussions about HIV prevention and behavior change.

Enhancing HIV Prevention for Vulnerable Populations

The project also incorporated structural interventions through the WORTH+ model, which focused on economic empowerment for vulnerable young women. ASUTA worked to establish savings groups, mentor empowerment workers, and provide financial literacy training to AGYW, enabling them to achieve economic independence and improve their overall well-being. These groups also served as safe spaces where young women could access integrated HIV prevention and livelihood services. Furthermore, ASUTA expanded the WORTH+ model to include Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) users, ensuring they had the necessary financial and social support to maintain HIV prevention strategies. Biomedical services formed a core part of ASUTA’s implementation strategy within the SAUTI Project. Through mobile clinics and outreach programs, the organization provided HIV testing, linkage to care, STI screening, family planning services, and GBV support at key hotspots and private residences. By adopting a client-centered approach, ASUTA ensured that vulnerable populations received personalized healthcare tailored to their unique needs. The organization also strengthened referral systems to improve follow-up care, ensuring that beneficiaries remained engaged in treatment and prevention services. To ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the project, ASUTA implemented a strong monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework. The organization conducted routine data quality assessments, facilitated data review meetings, and carried out focused supportive supervision to maintain service quality. Additionally, regular engagement with peer educators, mobilizers, and healthcare providers helped refine service delivery models and improve outcomes for vulnerable groups. Over the five years of implementation, the SAUTI Project achieved significant milestones. It successfully increased the uptake of HIV prevention and family planning services, improved positive behaviors and social norms at both individual and community levels, and reduced vulnerabilities among high-risk populations through structural interventions. The project also contributed to a more sustainable healthcare system by strengthening community-led approaches and ensuring long-term access to comprehensive HIV prevention services. ASUTA reaffirmed its commitment to improving healthcare access for marginalized populations. The project reduced HIV infections as well as empowered vulnerable communities with knowledge, resources, and support networks through integrating biomedical, behavioral, and structural interventions. The success of SAUTI demonstrated the importance of community-driven healthcare initiatives and highlighted ASUTA’s role as a key partner in advancing public health in Tanzania.