Three Ones principles: Need further civil society discourse

[Guest guest]

Dear members

We are all aware of the important “Three Ones principles” that was endorsed in

mid 2004. Details are given at the end of this mail.

In my view, these principles provide us an opportunity to put our act together

for an integrated, coordinated and concerted response at the National level and

we as a part of the civil society have a responsibility to work with our

government(s) to make this happen.

It will be great if we can have a general civil society discourse on:

1. What is the general view of the Civil Society vis a vis the Three Ones? (At

the cost of stating the obvious – very importantly, civil society includes

organizations and networks of key populations such as PLHAs, sex workers, MSM,

IDUs and various bridge populations).

2. What are the issues / challenges around implementing the Three Ones in India

from the civil society perspective, particularly given the fact that we have a

federal political structure? Specifically:

• Challenges / issues around arriving at, developing a broad consensus and then

implementing / operationalizing one agreed country HIV/AIDS Action framework and

how these challenges might best be overcome.

• Challenges / Issues around arriving at and then implementing a single agreed

country level M & E system / framework and how these challenges might be overcome.

• Issues around having a single national AIDS coordinating authority – what will

be its composition (including representation from civil society organization)

and mandate and how do we ensure that issues of decentralization and state level

autonomy are adequately accommodated within this and that this does not lead to

too much of centralization.

3. What is the kind of platform / space / governance structure that is needed

(particularly from the civil society perspective) in India for the

implementation of the Three Ones in the country?

4. What kind of capacity building does the Civil Society require in order to

effectively engage in policy dialogue at the State and National levels?

This is an important opportunity for the civil society to influence the wider

policy environment and collaborate with the government in the response to the

AIDS epidemic. I would be really grateful if members of the civil society can

share their views on the forum as well as with me, at my email:

ssengupta@... or shumon24@... at the earliest.

Cheers

Shumon Sengupta

Director (Andhra Pradesh)

International HIV / AIDS Alliance (In India)

Hyderabad

E-mail: <shumon24@...>

_______________________

Three Ones Principles:

On 25 April 2004, UNAIDS, the United Kingdom and the United States co-hosted a

high-level meeting at which key donors reaffirmed their commitment to

strengthening national AIDS responses led by the affected countries themselves.

They endorsed the " Three Ones " principles, to achieve the most effective and

efficient use of resources, and to ensure rapid action and results-based

management:

• One agreed HIV/AIDS Action Framework that provides the basis for coordinating

the work of all partners.

• One National AIDS Coordinating Authority, with a broad-based multisectoral

mandate.

• One agreed country-level Monitoring and Evaluation System.

There has been a marked shift in the global response to the complex AIDS crisis,

which continues to worsen. National responses are broader and stronger, and have

improved access to financial resources and commodities. As well as increased

commitments by affected countries themselves, the advent of the Global Fund to

Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the new AIDS programmes of the World Bank,

expanding commitments from donor countries (especially the United States) and

the work of private sector foundations has seen the total amount of funding on

AIDS increase from US$2.8 billion in 2002 to an estimated US$4.7 billion in

2003.

While more resources are needed, there is an urgent need for greater support and

collaboration with heavily-affected countries and to avoid duplication and

fragmentation of resources.

It is this challenge that the " Three Ones " are specifically designed to address.

Built on lessons learned over two decades, the " Three Ones " will help improve

the ability of donors and developing countries to work more effectively

together, on a country-by-country basis.