A global call for UK leadership on HIV.

[Guest guest]

From: Anton Kerr

[mailto:akerr@...]

Dear All

The UK’s Stop AIDS Campaign has been pushing the UK Govt to publish

their next HIV Strategy http://www.stopaidscampaign.org.uk/

to demonstrate their continued leadership on HIV. A key ask in our

campaigning has been arguing for a UK commitment to an AIDS Spending Target of

£2.5 billion over the next 3 years. Over the last weeks and months we

have been mobilizing campaigners, students, MP’s, Peers and the Conservative

party to support our calls. DfID have indicated that they will at last be

publishing the strategy in May – and from all accounts it is very unlikely the

UK Govt will have a specific HIV spending target. This is part of a move

by the UK to give its increasing aid directly to governments and to

multilateral organizations like the World Bank.

Since DfID are preparing to launch their new strategy in mid May it

is likely we only have a few days to reverse their decision not to commit to

AIDS specific spending. DfID was criticized by the National Audit Office

last year for not being able to track its HIV specific spending. Instead

of improving its tracking and accountability mechanisms – it is likely DfID will

simply try to not have an AIDS Spending target! At this point – it

will only be political pressure that will make a difference.

The UK organizations have worked over the past few days to develop

this score card – so that the UK Govt knows we will be watching and preparing

to react. The most important elements of the score card is to get Gordon

Brown to commit to and AIDS Spending target, and to using a mixture of funding

mechanisms to support the achievement of universal access. As UK NGO’s

really need your help. We need to mobilize international pressure – the

Brown Government need to know that UK leadership on AIDS is important

internationally. We know from many of our country partners that DfID

funds programs and interventions that national governments will not. If

we do not secure a HIV Spending Target – all of this will be under threat – as

all the DfID money will be going to national governments, many of whom do not

prioritize HIV interventions especially for marginalized groups.

Given that UK Govt also cares about its role in the international

community, as a catalyst for change; that they care about what those in the

global south thing and want, and that they also care about the ‘special

relationship’ with the USA – what can we do?

Through this email Id like to start an urgent discussion about what

we can do to ensure the UK continues its global leadership role and has a

specific HIV spending target. How we can use the messaging developed in

the score card in letters, e-actions, media etc.

Looking forward to your ideas and urgent actions.

Anton

Anton Kerr | Senior Policy Adviser

The International

HIV/AIDS Alliance

www.aidsalliance.org

International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Queensbury

House, 104 - 106 Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XF, UK

Direct Line: +44-(0)1273 718 715, Office Switchboard:

+44-(0)1273 718900 Office Fax: +44-(0)1273 718901

" We cannot allow

our promises.....to descend into just aspirations....and then only words that

symbolize broken promises "

Prime Minister Gordon

Brown 31st July 2007

Introduction

This AIDS

Strategy sets out the shape and scope of the UK’s contribution to meeting the

promise of universal access by 2010 and will demonstrate whether or not the UK

is serious about keeping the promise it originally brokered. It could set

either a positive or negative example to other major donors across the world.

The dangers of complacency are as real as the benefits of ambition. As the

world’s second biggest provider of funding for HIV and AIDS, the scope of the

UK’s strategy is central in shaping the global response. The forthcoming UK

Strategy on AIDS will clearly demonstrate whether the current UK Government

under Prime Minister Gordon Brown will continue Labour’s global leadership on

AIDS.

The

Consortium will be rating the forthcoming Strategy according to the criteria

outlined below. The financial and political leadership for ambitious and

progressive action in these five areas will demonstrate the UK Government’s

commitment to achieving universal access and to continuing its credibility

within the international HIV response.

1.

Ensure DFID’s financial contribution and approach matches its political

leadership: The UK Strategy for AIDS in the developing world is accompanied by

a spending target of £2.5 billion over three years.

The UK

needs to use the Strategy to show how it will pay for its share of the

universal access commitment and act to close the funding gap for HIV and AIDS.

In 2007 the funding gap stood at £4bn. Global resources will need to

quadruple by 2010 if existing commitments are to be met. This need is made

clear in the interim evaluation of the current AIDS Strategy. The Government

must also make clear how it will honour the pledge made by Baroness Shriti

Vadera at the Labour Party Conference fringe event in September 2007 that the

UK would remain the world’s second largest AIDS donor. Providing this funding

is essential to meeting the needs of communities affected by HIV and AIDS. It

would also provide a clear and measurable indication of the UK’s commitment to

universal access. Further still, by demonstrating leadership with a clear

spending commitment, the UK will be able to encourage other donors to increase their

funding.

2. Promote aid effectiveness by using a

range of funding instruments to ensure that funding and performance can be

transparently tracked and monitored.

Funding

for HIV, and other health concerns, should be delivered through a mixture of aid

instruments that include both support to national health budgets as well as

funding that targets specific diseases and populations, as appropriate to

national contexts. The International Health Partnership should facilitate and

coordinate this process. It should promote effective ways of measuring outcomes

through performance-based funding models, and include civil society in delivery

and monitoring mechanisms, supporting the high levels transparency that are

essential for full monitoring and evaluation.

3.

Make a significant contribution to deliver universal access to HIV prevention,

treatment, care and support by 2010.

The current global

AIDS resource gap is accompanied by appalling gaps in access to basic HIV

services - HIV prevention programmes reach fewer than 10% of injecting drug

users and men who have sex with men.[1]

A broad understanding of universal access must be promoted that places

appropriate emphasis on prevention, treatment, care and support, and that also

addresses social and economic factors that increase HIV vulnerability. DFID has

an impressive history in promoting evidence-based responses for marginalised

groups and on controversial issues such as sex and drug use. This

contrasts with the approach of other bilateral donors. Further, DFID must

continue its leadership on two key issues: promoting the integration of HIV and

sexual and reproductive health and rights; and strengthening health systems as

a means to increasing access, including embedding support to community health

structures. In order to make progress here this Strategy must include firm

plans to address the critical health worker shortage and provide long term,

sustainable financing to strengthen health systems.

The Strategy must set

out clear plans to advance access to medicines by outlining technical,

financial and political support to countries wishing to use TRIPS

flexibilities, and clear plans to support the development of a patent pool.

4.

Promote a gender-sensitive approach to the epidemic

An understanding of

gender-related issues and their incorporation into HIV prevention programming

is critical to an effective response. Gender should be examined broadly.

It is important to address the specific barriers to HIV and AIDS services faced

by women and girls, as well as the factors that increase their vulnerability to

HIV and AIDS, including violence. A gender-sensitive approach must look beyond

women and girls though, and address power inequalities and social structures,

and how these relate to culture, sexuality and men and boys. Integrating sexual

and reproductive health and rights and HIV is a critical component of ensuring

that gender issues and rights form the basis of the HIV response. DFID has

provided critical leadership on promoting the integration of HIV and sexual and

reproductive health and rights and this Strategy must set out the next steps to

universal access to both HIV-related services and reproductive health.

5.

Demonstrate financial and political commitment to meet the needs of children

affected by AIDS: 10% of the UK Government’s spending is earmarked for children

affected by AIDS

The UK Government’s

new AIDS Strategy should continue to earmark at least 10% of all its HIV and

AIDS funding for children affected by AIDS and track these resources to ensure

they reach the communities most affected. Critical actions in support of

children affected by HIV and AIDS include: ensuring effective and equitable

access to ART and cotrimoxazole for children, development of infant

diagnostics adaptable to resource-limited settings, legal protection

for children affected by AIDS within the context of social protection, and

provision of long-term funding and support to civil society organisations and

networks as significant part of the 10% allocation. The UK Government must set

out its fair share towards the HIV and AIDS funding commitments made by the G8

leaders at the Heiligendamm Summit, including: giving a timetable for its

contribution and encourage other G8 countries to do the same. We are

looking for specific financial commitments relating to the $1.5 billion

required for prevention of mother–to-child transmission (PMTCT), the $1.8

billion required for paediatric treatment and the resources required to care

for 10 million orphans and vulnerable children.

6. Ensure the

Strategy is multi-sectoral, obligating Government departments across Whitehall

in its implementation and monitoring

Different UK

Government departments must work together to increase coordination and policy

coherence in respect of domestic and international policy and practice on HIV

and AIDS. In particular, the Strategy must set out a joint DFID and FCO plan to

promote human rights relating to HIV, and to enhance coordination between the FCO’s

Drugs and Crime programme and DFID’s policy work to advance harm reduction. The

UK Government must resolve the inconsistency between domestic policies of the

Department of Health and the Home Office that deny some HIV positive

life-saving treatment, and DFID’s commitment to universal access to treatment.

7. Ensure the AIDS

Strategy turns the GIPA principle into action by

supporting the meaningful involvement of people living with HIV through

direct financial support and technical assistance to build organisational, community

and individual skills to strengthen their engagement in the HIV

response.

To support inclusion

and meaningful involvement, the Strategy should set out plans to support the

meaningful involvement of civil society, including people living with HIV and

vulnerable groups, into decision making on the UK Government’s global AIDS

programmes. DfID should turn the GIPA principle into action, and ensure that

all aspects of DFiD’s work is grounded in the reality of the lives of people

living with HIV. In addressing the need for financial support for GIPA DfID’s

Strategy must set out its spending commitment to promote financial stability,

capacity building, scaling up of activities and planning in organisations

representing the needs of people living with HIV.

‘The goals the world set are not being

met…The calendar says we are halfway from 2000 to 2015.

But the reality is we are a million miles

away from success.’

Gordon Brown, Prime Minister, speaking at the

United Nations, 31st July 2007.

As the

world’s second largest bilateral funder of AIDS, the scope and direction of the

UK’s Strategy will shape the global response. As described in many

contributions to the consultation on the UK global AIDS Strategy, along with

the independent evaluation of Taking Action, UK leadership on AIDS has

already had a significant impact internationally, supporting approximately 102[2] countries commit to costed national

AIDS plans, and to setting universal access. We look forward to a new Strategy

that sets out clear and measurable commitments – both policy commitments and

financial commitments - to make a significant contribution to the achievement

of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010.

SCORECARD

1. DFID’s financial contribution and

approach matches its political leadership

The UK Strategy for AIDS in the Developing

World is accompanied by a spending target of £2.5 billion over three years.

2. A range of funding instruments is

being used to ensure that funding and performance can be transparently

tracked and monitored.

Funding

for HIV, and other health concerns, is delivered through a mixture of aid

instruments that include both support to health budgets as well as funding

that targets specific diseases and populations, as appropriate to national

contexts.

The International Health Partnership

facilitates and coordinates this process.

The

IHP and funding for HIV includes effective ways of measuring outcomes through

performance-based funding models, including civil society in delivery and

monitoring, and ensuring the high levels transparency that are essential for

full monitoring and evaluation.

3. Significant and specific actions

making a significant contribution to achieving universal access to

HIV-related prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010.

A broad understanding of universal access

has been adopted that places appropriate emphasis on prevention, treatment,

care and support, and that also addresses social and economic factors that

increase vulnerability.

Evidence-based responses to sensitive

groups and on difficult issues are promoted and supported.

A rights-based approach underpins all

programming and policy interventions.

Funding allocations, mechanisms and policy

approaches support the integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health

and rights, including support to family planning.

DFID’s approach to strengthening health

systems embeds support to community health structures.

There are firm plans to address the

critical health worker shortage and to provide long term sustainable

financing to strengthen health systems.

There is firm technical, financial and

political support to countries wishing to use TRIPS flexibilities, and firm

plans to support the development of a patent pool.

4. The strategy adopts a

gender-sensitive approach to the epidemic

A commitment to fund and promote the

integration of sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV and AIDS

services.

Clear plans to strengthen the capacity to

disaggregate data by gender within DFID and its partners.

5. Financial and political

commitment to meet the needs of children affected by AIDS

10% of the UK Government’s spending on HIV

and AIDS is earmarked for children affected by AIDS

The UK Government contributes its fair

share towards the HIV and AIDS funding commitments made by the G8 leaders at

the Heiligendamm Summit, indicate when it plans to do so and encourage other

G8 countries to do the same: with particular regard to the $1.5 billion for

prevention of mother–to-child transmission (PMTCT), the $1.8 billion for

paediatric treatment and the resources required to care for 10 million

orphans and vulnerable children.

Support

national governments to ensure the provision of co-trimoxazole to all

HIV-exposed children as a prophylaxis and for the treatment of opportunistic

infections

Prioritise

the development of infant diagnostics adaptable to resource-limited settings

Strengthen

organisational capacity of governments and civil society responding to

children affected by AIDS

6.

The Strategy is multi-sectoral obligating government departments across

Whitehall in its implementation and monitoring

A strategy to strengthen the FCO’s work on

HIV and AIDS is outlined.

DFID and the FCO have an integrated action

plan, including the promotion of human rights relating to HIV, and better

coordination between the FCO’s drugs and crime programme and DFID’s policy

work to advance a harm reduction approach.

The UK government resolves the

inconsistency between domestic policies of the Department of Health and the Home

Office which lead to some immigrants living with HIV being refused treatment.

7.

The AIDS Strategy turns the GIPA principle into action.

Support for the inclusion and

meaningful involvement of people who are living with HIV through direct financial

support and technical assistance to build organisational, community and

individual skills to strengthen their engagement in the HIV

response.

DfID’s Strategy must set out its spending

commitment to promote financial stability, capacity building, scaling up of

activities and planning in organisations representing the needs of people

living with HIV.

________________________________________________________________________

This message (and any associated files) is intended only for the use of the

individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that

is confidential, legally privileged or subject to copyright. If you are not the

intended recipient you are hereby notified that any dissemination, copying or

distribution of this message, or files associated with this message, is

strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify

us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer.

Messages sent to and from us may be monitored.

Internet communications cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as

information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or

incomplete, or contain viruses. Therefore, we do not accept responsibility for

any errors or omissions that are present in this message, or any attachment,

that have arisen as a result of e-mail transmission. If verification is

required, please request a hard-copy version. Any views or opinions presented

are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of IHAA.

The International HIV/AIDS Alliance is a company limited by guarantee

registered in England and Wales with company number 2883774, and charity number

1038860. Registered office: Queensberry House, 104-106 Queens Road, Brighton,

BN1 3XF. VAT registration number 677 9402 87.

[1] Unicef/WHO/UNAIDS

(2007), Towards universal access: scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions

in the health sector: Progress report, February 2007

[2] http://www.unaids.org/universalaccess/