The UK government is in a critical position to influence the response, both through its own funding and as an advocate. Through campaigning and links with parliamentarians, the Consortium is putting pressure on the government to increase its contribution to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
The UK government’s commitment is needed now more than ever. The Global Fund board has announced that it will be unable to fund an expansion in AIDS, TB or Malaria services until 2014. This is a huge blow, considering that an end to AIDS has never seemed closer.
The landscape is changing. New evidence has come to light on treatment as prevention and a target has been set to get 15million people on treatment by 2015. UNAIDS has also set out a strong case in their Investment Framework. The Consortium is urging the UK government to invest into the HIV response now, as we believe this will prove cost effective in the long term.
The government has published a target in its HIV Position Paper to achieve universal access to treatment. In the run up to World AIDS Day it reiterated UNAIDS message of “getting to zero”- zero new infections, zero AIDS deaths and zero stigma and discrimination. It failed, however, to make a strong statement on treatment as prevention.
The Consortium will continue to hold the government to account and ensure that it delivers on the promises it makes. We published our Response to Towards Zero Infections to the Department for International Development’s HIV Position Paper: Towards Zero Infections in May 2011.
In June 2013 we are working as a partner to DFID in the review of the position paper, serving on the Steering Group for the review alongside DFID staff, gathering Case Studies showing how DFID investments in civil society have paid off, and convening a London workshop Information pack. Further information ben@aidsconsortium.org.uk.
In the 2011 Position Paper on HIV and AIDS, Towards Zero Infections, DFID committed to review progress against results and reassess strategic priorities in 2013. DFID is partnering with the UK Consortium to ensure civil society engagement in this process through the organisation of three workshops. The first of these took place in London on June 5th, and we are now turning our attention to the workshop that will take place in Pretoria on July 8th.
Once again, the DFID Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Lynne Featherstone MP will be present and DFID is looking to invite key representatives from civil society to take part. Numbers are restricted and there is no budget for travel.
However, an essential element of the workshop will be case studies giving insight in to the work DFID is funding in southern Africa, and which are designed to help in the gathering of evidence and the process of reviewing progress against results. We very much encourage your organisation to submit one and although submission of a case study does not guarantee participation in the workshop itself, all case studies will be used as material in the workshop and in the writing-up of the final review findings being undertaken by Oxford Policy Management, the consultants engaged to do this work.
Please download the Call for case studies which explains this further. Please email completed case studies to deborah@aidsconsortium.org.uk by 5pm GMT 27th June and contact Ben (ben@aidsconsortium.org.uk) for any further information. Please note, DFID is also encouraging people to contribute to this Review process through an on-line questionnaire.
