These guidelines are to address inquiries from CAs, CTOs and Technical Advisors about materials and resource distribution at the upcoming State of the Art Course (SOTA) being planned for AFR region in Johannesburg, South Africa from June 9-12, 2004.

Materials must be relevant to SOTA agenda and objectives. We are particularly focusing on new projects, programs and best practices. See www.phnsota.com site for more details. Presentations, materials and handouts are the responsibility of the presenter or CA/organization to provide. AFR SOTA planning team or USAID/W will NOT be duplicating or shipping materials to the SOTA. Each presenter will be responsible for bringing 100 copies to the SOTA meeting.

Please plan shipment arrival on or after June 1. You may ship materials to:

PLEASE ENSURE THERE ARE NO SURCHARGES FOR THE DELIVERY BY THE COURIER COMPANY. OTHERWISE PACKAGES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

We ask that you limit the bulk of materials given to participants. We will not be providing shipping back to missions, and history has shown, most SOTA participants will dump most materials in their hotel trash-bins. We ask you send electronic CD-ROMS with materials or display copies with sign up sheets. We expect 80-100 participants at this meeting and USAID will not be responsible for shipping 80 copies of documents.

Because you are a CTO, CA or presenter does not mean you will attend the SOTA course. Global Health Office of the Assistant Administrator has directed there be minimal attendance by USAID/W staff and none by CA community. Only those with major roles/functions, extensive technical participation or senior staff are invited to attend. If presenters plan to present a one-hour session, video-conferencing or phone-conferencing is available on site to use. Please contact Karin Turner to coordinate this option. Attendance at the SOTA is by invitation only to assure that the audience is composed primarily of USAID PHN staff from field offices in AFR.