Alliance receives £2 million boost from DFID to further HIV/AIDS work with communities

News from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance

15 March 2006: for immediate release

The International HIV/AIDS Alliance has received a funding boost of £2 million over the next three years from the Department for International Development, (DFID) through an increase in its strategic funding Partnership Programme Agreement. The six-year agreement between the Alliance and DFID runs until 2011. The first three years’ funding has been increased from £8.25 million to £10.25 million.

Alliance executive director Alvaro Bermejo said:

“This increase in funding is a clear indication of the UK government’s support for community responses and its determination to find extra resources for the global HIV/AIDS response, for which it should be applauded.

“The work of the Alliance and DFID already has many synergies and we look forward to developing our partnership further to support the UK government’s commitments on HIV/AIDS and the Millennium Development Goals.

“Strategic funding is crucial to the future of the Alliance and will enable us to expand our work and help more communities respond to the epidemic. This funding will help us to strengthen the Alliance global network of organisations, build the skills and capacity of HIV/AIDS organisations, share lessons learned, and work for HIV/AIDS programming and policy efforts that are driven by evidence of what works.

“This funding is great news for the future of the Alliance and for communities around the developing world. It is a testament to the strength of our approach to HIV/AIDS, and to the success of our programming and support work. It also shows the confidence that DFID holds in the Alliance’s ability to deliver.”

Ends

Editor’s notes

1. The International HIV/AIDS Alliance, established in 1993, is Europe’s largest organisation focused on HIV/AIDS and international development. It works through an alliance of linking organisations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe to mobilize and strengthen community action on HIV and AIDS. The Alliance provides technical and financial support to civil society and other organisations that support the communities most affected by HIV/AIDS. The Alliance has worked with community organisations from over 40 countries, provided financial support to over 3,000 projects (implemented by over 2,000 community and faith-based groups). Expenditure in 2005 alone is expected to reach approximately USD 45 million.

2. The Alliance has had an ongoing relationship with DFID (and its predecessor the Overseas Development Agency) since its inception in 1993. The ODA was part of the consortium which provided the impetus to set up the Alliance.

3. The current Programme Partnership Agreement between the Alliance and DFID sets out many areas of synergy including:

  • shared priorities to achieve the Millennium Development Goals;
  • a rights-based approach to HIV/AIDS work;
  • belief in the importance of civil society and building its capacity for HIV/AIDS work;
  • importance of participation of all vulnerable people and acknowledging the role of men and women in tackling the epidemic;
  • taking an evidence-based approach to what works;
  • sharing lessons learned;
  • building partnerships;
  • bringing about better co-ordination of HIV/AIDS efforts at global and national level; and
  • making sure the voices of local communities are heard in international decision-making arenas.

4. For more information about the work of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and to arrange interviews, please contact Simon Moore. T: 01273 718744. E: smoore@aidsalliance.org or Rhian Evans. T: 01273 718961. E: revans@aidsalliance.org