Agreement between the Alliance and UK Department for International Development strengthened by £2 million funding increase
15 March 2006
The Alliance has received an increase in funding of £2 million over the next three years from the UK Department for International Development (DFID). The increase forms part of a six-year strategic funding Partnership Programme Agreement between the Alliance and DFID, which runs until 2011. The first three years’ funding under the agreement has been increased from £8.25 million to £10.25 million.
“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,” said Alvaro Bermejo, the Alliance’s executive director. “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 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.
The purpose of the Partnership Programme Agreement between the Alliance and DFID is to "reduce the spread of HIV and impact of AIDS through increased community action on — and access to — prevention, care and impact mitigation efforts". It sets out how the Alliance and DFID will work together to meet the Millennium Development Goals and includes:
- a rights-based approach to HIV/AIDS work;
- belief in the importance of civil society and building its capacity for HIV/AIDS work;
- the importance of the 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
- ensuring the voices of local communities are heard in international decision-making arenas.
Strategic funding is crucial to the future of the Alliance and DFID’s support will enable the Alliance to expand its work and help more communities respond to the epidemic.
“This funding is great news for the future of the Alliance and for communities around the developing world,” said Alvaro. “It 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. It is also a testament to the strength of our approach to HIV/AIDS, and to the success of our programming and support work. It shows the confidence that DFID holds in the Alliance’s ability to deliver.”
