International Cooperation (Updated September 2009)

The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is the largest commitment ever by any nation for an international health initiative dedicated to a single disease. U.S. Department of State U.S. Agency for International Development U.S. Department of Defense U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of Labor U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Peace Corps Mailing address: SA-29, 2nd Floor 2201 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20522-2920 www.PEPFAR.gov

International Cooperation  HIV/AIDS threatens global security, prosperity, and the ability of tens of millions of people to live a healthy life and reach their full potential. In particular, the HIV/AIDS pandemic requires a sustainable response committed to strengthening health systems and coordinating efforts to address other diseases. Bilateral and multilateral partners, private foundations, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and community-based and faith-based organizations — all play key roles in the scale-up of comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment and care programs. Strengthening Multilateral Action Goal: Ensure a comprehensive and amplified response to global HIV/AIDS through leadership of, engagement in, and coordination with multilateral institutions and international organizations. Strategies: Coordinate multilateral programs to ensure a comprehensive and efficient response, and capitalize on the comparative advantages offered by each organization, including targeting organizational strengths to address unique challenges; Promote evidence-based policies and sound management strategies; and Encourage expanded partnerships that build local capacity. Multilateral Cooperation at Work: The HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting provides an open forum to exchange best practices and lessons learned in the field of HIV/AIDS. In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the meeting was co-sponsored by PEPFAR, the Global Fund, UNAIDS, UNICEF, the World Bank and WHO. Working Together Toward a Common Goal The U.S. Government (USG), through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), engages international organizations as partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Efforts are made to strengthen USG participation on governing boards and to consult closely and frequently with both the leadership and working levels of multilateral and international organizations in order to combat HIV/AIDS. This complex effort requires close cooperation among the USG; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund); the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); and other international partners. Through this cooperation, the USG leads and participates in a wide range of initiatives to meet the challenges of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. PEPFAR will continue to make coordination of international partner responses an intensive focus. PEPFAR will continue to be a leader in working with international organizations and other partners to put accessibility, quality and sustainability at the center of all HIV/AIDS work.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) The USG is a founding member of the Global Fund. The Global Fund is based on a unique model that encourages and relies on partnerships among governments; civil society, including community- and faith-based organizations; international organizations; bilateral and multilateral partners; the private sector; and affected people and communities in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. This means national ownership of Global Fund proposals should extend beyond government to the society as a whole. The USG is the largest single contributor to the Global Fund. The USG has contributed approximately $3.5 billion to the Global Fund since 2001, and has pledged approximately $4.5 billion. In addition to providing direct financial support to the Global Fund, the USG supports Global Fund grant implementation and oversight through bilateral programming and centrally-funded technical assistance. The USG is fully engaged in all aspects of the Global Fund, to ensure that it continues to grow and to be effective. USG representatives chair the Global Fund Board’s Policy and Strategy Committee and serve on the Finance and Audit Committee. The USG also leads the way in providing direct technical assistance to project implementers who need help to absorb funds quickly and use them effectively. USG teams independently review all proposals funded by the Global Fund, and are closely involved in its operation through staff on the ground in recipient countries. Working through other Multilateral Organizations Each organization has a distinct role to play in supporting national and local leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS. For example, the USG is working closely with UNAIDS to develop a uniform set of indicators that countries can use to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS programs. These indicators will help programs improve efficiency and achieve long-term sustainability. The WHO sets standards and guides policy for the advancement of global health. In recognition of WHO’s leadership in global TB control, the USG through PEPFAR is working cooperatively to fight TB and HIV/AIDS through an integrated approach. The USG and WHO have developed a two-year, $2 million joint project in Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda that will address the high rates of TB/HIV co-infection. The project will provide HIV counseling and testing for all clients attending TB clinics; strengthen links between TB and HIV/AIDS programs; improve case detection; and develop collaborations through TB programs to enhance provision of and adherence to antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS. This kind of cooperation between bilateral and multilateral programs in support of host nation goals must succeed in order to maintain momentum in the fight against both TB and HIV/AIDS. The U.S plays a leading role in numerous multilateral forums engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Through UNAIDS, the U.S. supports work against HIV/AIDS across the United Nations system. UNAIDS cosponsors include: U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) World Food Program (WFP) U.N. Development Program (UNDP) U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) International Labor Organization (ILO) U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) the World Health Organization (WHO) the World Bank