Cippress

Cippress, registered as a non-profit organization in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), has been active in receiving federal grant sub-awards since at least March 2021. The organization specializes in promoting collaboration with religious leaders to address public health challenges, particularly in the areas of HIV prevention and COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Cippress's work focuses on community mobilization, behavior change communication, and reducing stigma and discrimination related to health issues.

Through its federal grant sub-awards, Cippress has engaged in a variety of public health initiatives. In partnership with JSI Research & Training Institute Inc., Cippress conducted a large-scale community mobilization campaign in the North-East Department to increase COVID-19 vaccination coverage by reducing vaccine hesitancy and facilitating access to vaccination points. The organization has also worked extensively on HIV-related projects under sub-awards from Georgetown University. These efforts include tracking and retaining patients in HIV care, educating clients about available services, promoting differentiated drug distribution points (DDPs), and addressing stigma and discrimination. Cippress's activities encompass training religious leaders and community members, conducting focus groups, developing educational materials, and assisting with patient follow-up and support. The organization's unique position in fostering collaboration with religious leaders has made it a key partner in implementing USAID-supported behavior change initiatives and the TIDE (Tracking and Intensifying Data-driven Efforts) project for HIV care.