BackgroundThe United States has responded to the challenge of combating the global HIV/AIDS pandemic with the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the largest financial commitment ever, by any nation, for a major international health initiative dedicated to a single disease. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is the single umbrella program for all existing and new USG international HIV/AIDS assistance, including:
The Emergency Plan targets $10 billion over five years to dramatically ramp up HIV/AIDS services in 15 of the most affected countries in the world (the “focus countries”), representing nearly 50 percent of HIV infections worldwide, with the goals of (1) supporting the treatment of two million people infected with HIV; (2) supporting the prevention of seven million new HIV infections; and (3) supporting care for 10 million people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, including orphans and vulnerable children. The Emergency Plan also targets $5 billion over five years to support HIV/AIDS programs in an additional 108 countries, international research, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (“Global Fund”). In addition to the massive dedication of resources, the Emergency Plan represents an important change in how USG HIV/AIDS international assistance is planned, managed, and implemented. Priorities include coordinating all of the USG Agencies working in HIV/AIDS to create one unified USG response at the headquarters and country levels; a focus on accountability and achievement of results; and the strengthening of indigenous responses, organizations and systems to combat the pandemic and ensure sustainability. The position of U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) have been established to lead the integrated planning and implementation of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, who is the President’s representative on international HIV/AIDS issues, has “primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of all resources and international activities of the United States Government to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic” [U.S. Leadership Against AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003, Section 102]. Consistent with these responsibilities, the Coordinator will:
In its first year, the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator established a Five-Year U.S. Government Country Programs: This document pertains to any USG bilateral programs that currently receive HIV/AIDS funds through any of the USG implementing agencies, including the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control (HHS/CDC), the Peace Corps and the Department of Defense. FY 05 funding levels were used as the basis for this analysis. In FY 05, 123 country programs received funding for HIV/AIDS programs from various USG implementing agencies.1 Among the programs receiving bilateral HIV/AIDS resources outside of the 15 focus countries, 90 received less than $5 million. Eighteen USG programs received over $5 million, including new funds from the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative (GHAI) account, and have more than one USG agency providing assistance. This guidance addresses all USG programs providing HIV/AIDS resources on a country level. Although both USAID and HHS/CDC have provided support and GHAI funds to regional programs, because of their unique position, the diversity of program mix and models, and the difficulty in measuring their performance against service delivery results, these will be addressed at a later time. Policy articulated in this document does, however, apply to countries where the regional platforms are essentially serving as a funding vehicle for service delivery programs because there is not a USG implementing agency presence in-country, for example in Swaziland, Lesotho and Burma. Expectations relative to the President’s Emergency Plan: When considering the responsibilities of bilateral programs under the Emergency Plan, several aspects are considered, including: 1 Please see Appendix 2 for a full listing of the 123 countries. General Policy Guidance for All Bilateral Programs Home Page | ||||
U.S. Government interagency website managed by the Office of U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and the Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein. Copyright Information | Privacy | FOIA |