Table 4 Cost study WP

Top-down approach

Analysis of programmatic costs (top-down cost) based on Solthis and implementing partners’ financial and activity reports. This analysis will include shared overhead costs of the programme.

Bottom-up cost approach

Based on a sample of sites where both HTS and HIVST distribution are ongoing. Dispensing sites will be randomly sampled considering the dispensing strategies implemented in each site (fixed and mobile strategies), the geography of the site (country, region). About 60 sites will be investigated (~ 30 in Côte d’Ivoire, ~ 15 in Mali and ~ 15 in Senegal). The data collected will cover both the costs of dispensing HIV kits and other HIV testing activities conducted on-site. It will include specific costs of the ATLAS programme, as well as costs covered by other donors (e.g., Global Fund, Pepfar) and economic costs not reported in financial reports (e.g., donations of goods and services), as well as allocation factors for the disaggregation of costs by delivery models. The collection will be based on the various reporting documents produced by the structure (financial reports, activity reports, etc.) and on individual interviews conducted with the technical and financial managers of the structure. The interview document with the person in charge on-site will serve as a working basis for the development of a data collection tool by research assistants and will be piloted for adaptation to the different sites in each country.

Time-motion study

To complement the bottom-up approach, a time-motion study will be conducted to disaggregate field-based personnel time between HIVST-related activities and other activities to use this information as an allocation factor of personnel costs between HIVST delivery models. The number of providers to be surveyed will be determined based on the preliminary results of the bottom-up approach. Specifically, for each survey day at a given site, the research team will list the providers active on that day and verbally ask each provider if they are willing to participate. Among those who have indicated a willingness to participate in the study, a random draw will be held to select the person(s) to be followed on that day. Written informed consent will be obtained from study participants.