UK Dt. For International Development Governance And Transparency Fund Supports Global Drive To Hold Countries Accountable To HIV/AIDS Universal Access

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 07 Oct 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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The UK Department of International Development (DfID) will support GNP+ and World AIDS Campaign through its Governance and Transparency Fund (GTF) for 5 years for a total of GBP 4,099,669 (EUR 5,176,755; USD 7,558,739).

The programme is the result of a long standing partnership between GNP+ and the World AIDS Campaign. Together the coalition has many years of experience in advocating, campaigning, skills building, mobilizing and working with networks. Most joint campaigning and advocacy has been directed at improving the governance of institutions and governments, holding them accountable with the aim to increase their responsiveness to the HIV pandemic.

"From the perspective of people living with HIV (PLHIV), this GTF-funded programme is designed to facilitate the collection of evidence in communities of human rights abuses, stigma and discrimination and the degree to which the greater involvement of people living with HIV (GIPA) has been implemented," stated Kevin Moody, International Coordinator / CEO of GNP+. "This evidence will become the basis for campaigning, advocacy and policy development at country, regional and international level."

PLHIV networks and organizations at country level will adapt and implement programmes; collect and analyze data; and share information with other sectors in country, as well as counterparts at regional and international level. This level of community-based programme is an adjunct to activities already taking place and should help to solidify connections among advocates at all levels.

"Multiple sectors of civil society at country level are struggling to work together effectively. The GTF funding will assist the World AIDS Campaign and its partners in developing sustainable cross sector partnerships to work together on campaigns and advocacy," reported Marcel van Soest, Executive Director of World AIDS Campaign. "By using the evidence collected by our PLHIV partners in communities, the national multi sector partners can work together to develop and implement successful campaigns and advocacy strategies."

World AIDS Campaign and its partners have successfully pilot tested a mechanism for convening multiple sector partners in sustainable and effective coalitions in three countries: Zambia, Kenya and Nigeria. This model will be replicated throughout this programme and build on the success already achieved through the in country collaboration of the following sectors: labour, faith, business, NGO, media, youth, women, and PLHIV.

The ultimate aim of the GTF-funded programme will be to hold governments, agencies and organizations accountable to promises made to reach Universal Access. By working together, GNP+ and World AIDS Campaign will strive to implement this programme in at least fifteen countries, mostly in Africa but also in three other southern regions over the coming five years. The results of programme implementation will benefit not only the country level coalitions and networks but also regional and international counterparts, through the sharing of information, data and best practices.

A unique component of the GTF funds is that over 85 percent of the budget will be spent in the Global South.

GNP+ and the World AIDS Campaign are encouraged by the acceptance of their joint proposal and believe this is a recognition of the need to highlight PLHIV voices within advocacy messages and, while doing so, ensuring sustainable and effective multiple sector national coalitions that are connected to regional and international structures.

About the Global Network of People living with HIV and AIDS

GNP+ is the only worldwide network representing all people living with HIV and AIDS. As a network based on emancipation and self-determination, GNP+ nurtured the development of six fully independent regional networks of people living with HIV covering Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America and North America. GNP+ advocates to improve the quality of life of all people living with HIV. The central theme for the work of GNP+ for 2007 and beyond is Reclaiming our Lives!

About the World AIDS Campaign

The World AIDS Campaign supports, strengthens and connects advocacy campaigns that hold leaders accountable for their promises on HIV and AIDS. "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise." is the slogan of the World AIDS Campaign from 2005-2010. The World AIDS Campaign is a global coalition governed by experienced campaigning networks of labour, faith, business, NGOs, media, youth, women, and PLHIV.

World AIDS Campaign