5th INTER-AGENCY MEETING ON COORDINATION
AND HARMONIZATION OF HIV/AIDS, TB AND
MALARIA STRATEGIES
BRAZZAVILLE, CONGO
5-7 MARCH 2014

DRAFT CONCEPT NOTE

Theme “Taking Stock of Africa’s Achievements, Challenges and Directions in Responding to AIDS, TB and Malaria”

I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1. The work and efforts of continental and regional institutions needs to be coordinated in order to effectively support Member States to follow-up on commitments and to adequately address challenges in HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria programmes. Development Partners and the United Nations, continue to support national, regional and continental actions on Universal Access, however these efforts require more coordination, harmonisation and alignment. Thus, a Forum for Coordination and Harmonization of joint efforts was initiated to improve coordination among Multilateral Institutions and International Donors.

2. The fourth Inter-Agency Meeting on Coordination and Harmonization of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Strategies held in 2012 under the theme “Boosting the HIV, TB and Malaria response through Accountability” identified priority actions such as leadership and governance to achieve the health MDGs, strengthening health and community systems to sustain and scale-up of key interventions and resource mobilization and sustainable funding to achieve the health MDGs that would boost the response to the three diseases in Africa.

3. In addition, at the invitation of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the African Union (AU) Commission in collaboration with UN Agencies and other development partners, organized a Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (A.T.M.), in Abuja, Nigeria from 12 to 16 July 2013 under the theme “Ownership, Accountability and Sustainability of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Response in Africa: Past, Present and the Future’’. This was appropriate given the fact that HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria remain major causes of morbidity and mortality in Africa and continue to pose serious challenges to socio-economic development and human security in the continent. The aim of the Special Summit was to review the status of implementation of the Declarations and Frameworks for Action from the (a) Abuja Summit on Roll Back Malaria, 2000; (b) Abuja Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases (ORID), 2001 and; (c) Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases (ORID), 2006.

4. The Special Summit reviewed the status of African Governments’ investment in the various national responses to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and adopted a set of actions to enhance the continent’s response and efforts towards reversing the impact of these diseases by ensuring universal access to services and strengthened health systems, especially for the poor and most marginalized people.

5. This Fifth Inter-agency Meeting on Coordination and harmonization of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Programs is taking place against the back drop of significant developments in the renewed fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB. Significant efforts have been made and achievements recorded by African countries in preventing and treating HIV and AIDS, in particular through prevention of mother-to-child transmission programmes, blood screening for HIV and provision of antiretroviral treatment for those in need. Noteworthy achievements have also been made in tuberculosis treatment, with almost 100% coverage of Directly Observed Treatment Strategy, the halting of the previously increasing incidence rate and declining TB mortality in several countries, and the reduction of malaria-related deaths. There have been notable increases in health budgets in many countries, a positive sign although only a few (5) countries have reached the 15% threshold recommended by the year 2001 Abuja Declaration. In addition, the development and strengthening of harmonized national, regional and continental strategies, policies, plans and laws to guide the response is a step in the right direction.

6. Despite progress recorded, challenges are still abound, and African countries may not be able to achieve the objectives of the Abuja Call and the MDGs by 2015. The burden of poverty in African countries continues to constrain country efforts, limiting access to health services. On the continent, only 54% of those eligible for antiretroviral treatment have access. Only 10.9% of children under 5 years were reported to have received timely treatment according to national malaria treatment guidelines. The emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is a major concern, given the significant costs of treatment and high mortality. Health systems strengthening remains essential in almost all countries and can only be carried out with the renewed support of partners in the context of good governance.

II. OBJECTIVES OF THE 5thINTERAGENCY MEETING

7. The main objectives of the 5thInter-Agency Meeting include :

(i) To review progress and challenges encountered in implementing the recommendations and agreed priority actions of the 4th Inter-Agency Meeting on Coordination and Harmonization (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 2012);

(ii) To take stock of the implementation of the Abuja Call for Accelerated Actions Towards Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Services in Africa by 2015 and define the next steps;

(iii) Identify key priority areas for implementation of the Abuja Actions Towards the Elimination of HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa by 2030 and ensure synergy in the implementation of other Abuja commitments;

(iv) To discuss the key findings and the proposed Action Plan of the 2nd Desk Review of Women and Girls, HIV/AIDS and Conflicts: Situation Analysis of 11 Selected Conflict and Post Conflict Countries in Africa.

III. EXPECTED OUTCOMES

8. This 5thInter-Agency Meeting is expected to result in:

(i) Identification of the challenges encountered in implementation of the recommendations of the 4th Inter-Agency Meeting and elaboration of plans for better coordination and harmonization of efforts by stakeholders;

(ii) Action plan (Next Steps) for the last push towards achieving the targets of the Call for Accelerated Action Towards Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Services in Africa by 2015 and the Abuja Actions Towards the Elimination of HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa by 2030;

(iii) Concrete proposal to support the implementation of the Action Plan for Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS in Conflict and Post Conflicts Settings in Africa developed and completed;

(iv) To build consensus on the roles of different partners in promoting the successful implementation of Treatment 15.

IV. ORGANIZATION OF THE MEETING

9. The three-day meeting is planned for 5-7 March 2014 and will be co-organized by the AU Commission, WHO, UNECA, UNAIDS and its Co-sponsoring Agencies. Accordingly, representatives of the African Union Commission, UNECA, UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO and UNFPA constitute the Organizing Committee. In addition, the representatives of the Global Fund, Roll Back Malaria, ALMA, World Bank, AfDB and other key players in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria & TB would be invited to participate at the fifth meeting.

10. The 5th Meeting will be held at the Regional Offices of WHO/AFRO in Brazzaville as follows:

• 5-6 March 2014: Meeting of Experts
• 7 March 2014: Meeting of Regional Directors/ Executives for Africa

11. Invited participants and experts will be drawn from the AU and its organs and programmes, Health, HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria focal points of RECs and RHOs, relevant UN Agencies and a few other International Organizations; and Regional NGOs and CSOs actively involved in the control of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria in Africa.

V. DOCUMENTATION: WORKING / REFERENCE

12. Deliberations will be based on the most recent commitments and updates reflected in the documentation listed below:

(i) Concept Note
(ii) Progress Report on the Abuja Call for Accelerated Action Towards Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Services in Africa by 2015;

(iii) Declaration of the Special Summit of the African Union on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria entitled “Abuja Action Toward the Elimination of HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa by 2030”;
(iv) The Second Desk Review of Women and Girls, HIV/AIDS and Conflicts: Situation Analysis of 11 Selected Conflict and Post Conflict Countries in Africa.

VI. WORKING LANGUAGES:

13. Simultaneous interpretation will be done in English and French during the Meeting. The main working documents will also be available in the two languages.

VII. CONTACT PERSONS/ADDRESS

14. Additional Information could be obtained from the following focal points:

A. AU COMMISSION
Dr. Djoudalbaye Benjamin
Senior Health Officer HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and OID
Department of Social Affairs
African Union Commission
P O Box 3243
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251 115 52 63 73 Ext 2207
Email::BenjaminD@africa-union.org cc HarakeyeM@africa-union.org and SenaitY@africa-union.org

B. WHO AFRO
Dr RAZAKASOA Nirina
HIV and AIDS Strategic Information and Planning
WHO-AFRO
PO. Box 6, Brazzaville-CONGO
GPN: 39223
Tel: +47 241 39223
Mobile : +242 05 61 90 140
E-Mail : razakasoan@who.int

Dr. Akpaka Kalu
Malaria Strategic Information and Planning
WHO-AFRO
P. O. Box 6, Brazzaville-Congo
Tel: +4724139405
Mobile: +242066839195
Email: kalua@who.int

Dr Daniel Kibuga
DOTS Expansion - TB Programme
WHO-AFRO
PO. Box 6, Brazzaville-CONGO
Tel : +47 241 39799
Mobile : +242 06 6616 135
E-Mail : kibugad@who.int

C. UNAIDS
Dr Pride Chigwedere
Senior Advisor to the African Union,
UNAIDS AU Liaison Office
Office: +251 115 443 121
Cell: +251 911 508 724 IP: 90538
P.O Box: 5580 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Email: ChigwedereP@unaids.org