Philanthropy for HIV/AIDS

A Brief Guide

Prepared by the United Nations Foundation

The Global Crisis

Twenty years after the first clinical evidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was reported, HIV/AIDS has emerged among the great health, development and security issues in human history:

• In 2001, there were 3 million reported AIDS deaths, and 5 million people became infected. One-third of the estimated 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS are 15-24 years old.

• On some Caribbean islands, the HIV rate among girls aged 15-19 is up to five times that of boys in the same age group.

• Calculations show that heavily affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa could lose more than 20% of GDP by 2020.

• HIV/AIDS is jeopardizing young people’s education and future prospects. In Guatemala, for example, more than one-third of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS drop out of school.

• The adult infection rate in Botswana is almost 40%.

• Over the next decade, HIV/AIDS infection rates are expected to explode in Eurasia, most notably Russia, India, and China.

• New means of transmitting the disease are putting whole new population segments at risk.

And Yet There Is Hope

“Best practices” and successful response strategies have been identified:

• In Kampala, Uganda, almost 98% of sex workers surveyed in 2000 said they had used a condom the last time they had sex.

• In Cambodia, strong political leadership and public commitment helped lower HIV prevalence among pregnant women to 2.3% at the end of 2000 – down by almost one-third from 1997.

Success stories such as these not only mean lives saved, but economies left intact and health systems not overwhelmed to the point of inaction.

Addressing the Crisis: What Should the Next Steps Be?

• Integration of approaches: Improve results and cost effectiveness by coordinating with the many highly respected organizations active in programming, monitoring, and evaluating of HIV/AIDS programs.

• Promotion of “Best Practices”: Support and implement successful interventions or “best practices”. The last fifteen years of HIV prevention and care have led to the development of a rich body of experience and expertise that can be adapted to other areas.

• Scaling up effective programs: Expanding existing programs to a greater scale can quickly and cost-effectively make an impact.

• Strategic response: Support comprehensive programs that have identified all elements needed for a successful, sustained impact.

How Can Private Philanthropists Help?

Philanthropic support of intermediary organizations is crucial for the continued effectiveness of efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. These organizations support and complement the work of governments struggling to cope with the pandemic. Private support of intermediary organizations will enable them to deliver the following kinds of services:

• Advocacy: Increase and maintain the full engagement of top-level leaders; continue to improve access to essential information, services, and commodities; and promote policies that prevent discrimination and intolerance.

• Prevention – protecting the vulnerable and those at greatest risk: Prevention in both high and low prevalence countries remains the cornerstone of efforts to combat the epidemic. Provide those most vulnerable to HIV, such as children, young people (especially girls), and women with the skills and opportunities to protect themselves from HIV. This can be done through support for completion of basic education; provision of appropriate health services, and creation of economic opportunities; and promotion of prevention methods (e.g. condoms) and prevention programs for marginalized groups.

• Care and support and greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS: Ensure the provision of care and support to individuals, households, and communities affected by HIV/AIDS, e.g. through voluntary counseling and testing services, social and economic support, mitigating the ripple effects of the epidemic on families and communities such as caring for orphans and reducing discrimination and stigma.

• Research: Support research to develop and accelerate access to prevention and care technologies such as antiretrovirals, nevirapine to prevent mother-to-child transmission, and microbicides to help women protect themselves, as well as social sciences research to improve our understanding of factors which influence the epidemic.

• Accelerating access: Improve access to care, including treatments for opportunistic infections and antiretroviral therapy, in the hardest hit regions of the world.

• Capacity building: Strengthen human resources and institutional capacities required to implement an effective multi-sectoral response and national strategic plans.

Where Can You Go To Learn More?

Funders Concerned About AIDS mobilizes philanthropic leadership and resources – domestically and internationally – to eradicate the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to address its social and economic consequences. It is also a great resource to learn the latest news concerning HIV/AIDS.

The Global Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS is an alliance of international businesses that seeks to be a key partner in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The coalition promotes not only effective workplace programs and policies for the prevention of HIV/AIDS and care of infected and affected individuals, but also promotes social action programs in the local community and cross sector partnerships with governments and NGOs.

UNAIDS serves as a leading advocate for worldwide action against HIV/AIDS, and serves as the key coordinator of the United Nations’ response to the crisis.

UNICEF was mandated to advocate for the protection of the rights of children. Its priority program areas include the health and well-being of children and young people, AIDS education and communication programs, assisting children and families affected by AIDS, and preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission.

The United Nations Foundation supports United Nations’ efforts to address key challenges facing the international community focusing on Women and Population; Children’s Health; the Environment; and Peace, Security, and Human Rights. As part of its overall mission, the Foundation also seeks to advance public-private partnerships in support of these UN issues.

The International AIDS Economics Network offers data, tools, and analyses for researchers and policymakers on the economics of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in developing countries.