Global Task Team: Improving AIDS Coordination Among Multilateral Institutions

and International Donors

Briefing for Theme Group on HIV/AIDS

1 November 2005

Contexts – epidemic, national responses, aid environment

• Expanding epidemics, deepening impacts • Increased leadership & resource commitments• Slow scale-up, challenges of resource

utilization

• MDGs – commitment to global goals• OECD/DAC – aid effectiveness (A-S-H)• UN reform - improved efficiency & effectiveness

The GTT – origins and aims• “Making the Money Work” meeting (9 March)

conclusions: – more must be done– we must maximize our collective effectiveness

• Agreed to GTT to make recommendations on:– options for further coordination, particularly within the multilateral

system, to resolve areas of duplication and gaps, and;

– Consider how the multilateral system can streamline, simplify and further harmonise AIDS procedures and practices with a view to improving effectiveness and reducing the burden placed on countries

The GTT – participation & process

• Comprised 64 representatives from 24 countries & institutions (govts, civil society, multilaterals)

• Co-chaired by Sweden and UNAIDS

• Worked within 80 day deadline (May and June)

• Endorsed by UNAIDS PCB (27-29 June): – requested UNAIDS Secretariat & Cosponsors to implement

GTT recommendations– Urged GFATM, WB to consider recommendations

Key challenges

• For countries: to secure ownership by developing capacity to identify problems, set priorities, and establish accountable systems to enable the rapid scaling up of a multisectoral response to AIDS (G8 “Universal Access”)

• For multilateral institutions and international partners: to be accountable for providing support to national plans, policies, procedures, systems, and cycles including through aligning with them and harmonizing with each other

Challenges to multilateral system

• Functioning of UN system at country level: coherence and alignment, joint strategic & operational plans, coordination

• Ability of the multilateral system – at country and global levels - to respond to immediate problems at the country level (to address bottlenecks to “making the money work”)

• Division of labour among UNAIDS Cosponsors and the GFATM

• Challenges to the financing of technical support – mismatch between needs and resources

GTT Recommendations

1. Empowering inclusive national leadership and ownership

2. Alignment and harmonization

3. Reform for a more effective multilateral response, incl UN

4. Accountability and oversight

1. Empowering inclusive national leadership and ownership

• Countries: develop annual priority action plans– UNAIDS: develop standards & criteria (Dec 2005)– UN: technically support action plan preparation– UNAIDS: monitor and report progress (June 2006)

• Countries: ensure macro-economic and public expenditure frameworks prioritise HIV/AIDS

– WB & UN: TA to integrate AIDS into PRSPs, MTEF, etc.– WB: ensure evidence on economic consequences of AIDS shapes

internal policies and guidance to countries– WB & IMF: assist countries to ensure that macro-economic &

public expenditure frameworks support implementation of AIDS action plans

2. Alignment and harmonization

• Multilaterals: commit to working with NACs to align support to national strategies, policies, systems, cycles, & annual priority action plans– GFATM, WB: identify approaches to improve alignment of

financing (Dec 05)– GFATM, WB: participate in joint annual reviews and evaluations

(June 2006)

– UNAIDS, GFATM, WB: report progress on clarifying relationship

between NACs and CCMs (June 2006)

• GFATM, WB, UN – take concrete steps to align, harmonise and simplify (OECD/DAC)

3. Reform for a more effective multilateral response

• UNSG: instruct UNRCs to establish a unified country programme and joint UN team on HIV/AIDS (5-10 countries by Dec 2005)

• Establish joint GFATM-UN problem solving team to address country level implementation bottlenecks

• UNAIDS Cosponsors & GFATM to establish a clearer division of labour, in order to more effectively support countries

• Increase funding for UN-provided technical support

4. Accountability and oversight

• UNAIDS: assist NACs to lead participatory reviews of the performance of multilateral institutions, international partners and national stakeholders that build upon existing OECD/DAC standards and criteria for alignment and harmonization

• Multilateral and other international partners: assist NACs to strengthen M&E mechanisms and structures that facilitate oversight of and problem solving for national AIDS programmes

A more effective UN response: Joint UN Team

• The joint UN team will provide a common entry point for national stakeholders to more easily access the full range of AIDS-related services available throughout UN system

• The joint UN team will, upon request, support NACC to develop capacity to oversee implementation and to identify and solve problems

A More Effective UN Response: Consolidated Technical Support Plan

• 17 broad areas of UNAIDS technical support

• ‘Lead Organization’ and ‘Main Partners’

• Each UNAIDS organization leading at least one technical area

• Grouping under three thematic headings:1. Strategic planning, governance and financial management2. Scaling up interventions3. M&E, strategic information, knowledge sharing and accountability

Lead Agencies

• Global: • Leadership/global policy discussions• Establishment of global and regional support mechanisms

• Country-level:• Single entry point for support enquiries• Coordination/facilitation of technical support provision

(request – consultation with TG Chair, UCC, main partners to identify optimal provider(s) and financing)

• Advice to stakeholders, demand stimulation/advocacy• Reporting, M&E coordination

In summary….

Implementation of GTT recommendations will:• Help countries turn available financial resources into action

on the ground;

• Increase accountability of all partners;

• Strengthen coordination mechanisms at the country and global levels;

• Establish a coherent division of labour among multilateral institutions;

• Increase collaboration among the UN family, the Global Fund and other multilateral institutions; and,

• Ultimately scale-up national AIDS programmes.