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Key Text Taking Action: The UK Government’s Strategy for Tackling HIV/AIDS in the Developing World

Author: Department for International Development
Date: 2004
Size: 81 pages (1.31 MB)

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Summary

HIV and AIDS pose a serious threat to eradicating poverty and meeting the Millennium Development Goals. On World AIDS Day in 2003, the UK Prime Minister called for stronger international action to tackle the epidemic and to meet global targets. This document sets out in detail the British government’s strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS around the world.

With 58 million people infected with HIV and 20 million deaths from AIDS, the epidemic is reversing gains in poverty reduction made in developing countries over the last 20 years. Women and young people, including the growing numbers of African children orphaned by AIDS, are particularly vulnerable. A key aim of the strategy is to address their needs. The document reports progress towards the commitments outlined in 2003, and sets out the UK’s vision for a global response to AIDS, including detailed government actions. These will be reviewed in three years. Overall, the Government will continue to work towards the achievement of internationally agreed targets. Specific policies are divided into six broad categories with the aims of: closing the funding gap; strengthening political leadership; improving the international response; supporting better national programmes; developing long-term solutions; and translating strategy into action.

The strategy is based on the Government’s December 2003 ‘Call for Action on HIV/AIDS’. It identifies five key areas where progress needs to be made:

More funding. Although financing has increased, there is a significant gap between what has been committed and what is needed. Funding must be made available on a predictable and long-term basis.
Stronger political direction. Some countries are still failing to acknowledge the threat AIDS poses to development. All governments must recognise and play their part in dealing with the problem.
Better donor coordination. The appearance of new donors is causing problems for developing countries. Separate donor missions duplicate effort and waste time. Donor actions need to be harmonised.
More effective national programmes. Many countries still rely too much on the health sector to deal with the epidemic, and overlook the potential contributions of civil society and the private sector.
Longer-term solutions. Reponses must reflect the fact that the epidemic is an ongoing problem. Financing and systems should be sustainable. Investment is needed in medical technology to control the spread of HIV.

Each of the six policy categories contains a list of clear action points for the UK Government. These include commitments to:

Increase funding for AIDS-related work, and spend at least £1.5 billion over the next three years.
Push for agreement on a new International Finance Facility to secure predictable long-term funds.
Make AIDS a centrepiece of the UK Presidencies of the G8 and EU in 2005, and secure promises of action. Britain will also encourage regional cooperation, particularly through African organisations.
Channel more support through multilateral partners and work to harmonise donor efforts, including helping countries reduce the number of donors.
Take steps at international level to increase access to medicines.
Provide funds and advice to help developing countries plan and deliver national strategies that are comprehensive, address broader causes and effects, and prioritise the needs and rights of marginal groups.

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Source: Department for International Development, 2004, ‘Taking Action: The UK Government’s Strategy for Tackling HIV/AIDS in the Developing World’, Department for International Development, UK.
Author: Department for International Development (DFID), http://www.dfid.gov.uk