Project Concept note

UNDAF outcome

1. Young people and other vulnerable groups reduce their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS by adopting safer behaviors
2. All Vulnerable Groups exercise their rights to develop in a safe and supportive environment that provides protection from and care for HIV/AIDS

I. Objective:

To ensure optimal UN support to the country response to HIV/AIDS.

II. Basic information:

Kyrgyzstan is still in the early stages of the epidemic although in the south it is considered to be at the concentrated stage of the epidemic. HIV transmission is still mainly through injecting drug use, and vulnerable populations include injecting drug users, sex workers, men who have sex with men, prisoners, mobile populations and youth. As of February 1st 2007, the official registered number of people living with HIV is 1083.

Although a new law on HIV was passed in July 2005, in practice it is not always observed. Women are increasingly more vulnerable, and according to National AIDS Center statistics, more women are becoming infected, especially in the southern region. There is still a high prevalence of risk behaviors. HIV prevention programmes are mainly concentrated in the capital, Bishkek, and in the major cities-excluding access to those at oblast, local and rural level. People living with HIV and vulnerable groups are discriminated against and stigmatized.

UN in essence supports the government in assessing the technical need in HIV/AIDS area and helps to identify gaps in the national policy. Main priority will be supporting the Government in further implementation of the Strategic Document on HIV/AIDS prevention for 2006-2010, based on UNAIDS Technical Division of Labor.  

Through the strong position of UN in the Country Multisectoral Coordination Committee UN possesses opportunity to sound as one voice (UN Theme Group as a coordination and policy body). Joint UN Team on AIDS under the leadership of the UNAIDS Programme Officer serves as a professional team that provides technical and advisory support to the UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS.

Mechanism of the UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS globally serves as a major instrument for UN coordination and leadership on HIV/AIDS at the country level. An effective UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS is one that makes the best possible and strategic use of the individual and collective resources of the Cosponsors.

III. Key points:

• The financial environment of the response to HIV/AIDS has changed dramatically; 
• The technical environment has also evolved, including the improvements in antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and, with it, the challenge of ensuring equitable access to treatment; 
• The political environment has changed, especially with UNGASS on HIV/AIDS having now shifted the emphasis from mere advocacy to accountability of political leadership;

In this dynamic environment, the UN system organizations must define what constitute strategic contributions on their part. These could be as following:

• Leadership and advocacy for effective action on the epidemic; 
• Strategic information required to guide the efforts of partners; 
• Tracking, monitoring and evaluation of the epidemic and responses to it; 
• Civil society engagement and partnerships development; 
• Financial, technical and political resource mobilization.

IV. Plans for 2007

• Technical assistance to the Country Multisectoral Coordination Committee based on the needs assessment will be provided by each cosponsor agency in accordance with the Technical Division of Labour. 
• The Joint UN Team on HIV/AIDS will be strengthened and serve as a technical working group. 
• The UN will continue to support the national response to AIDS through strengthening the "Three Ones":
  • A national strategic framework including UN agencies and other partners and based on the National AIDS Programme will be designed; 
  • A monitoring and evaluation system will be improved and strengthened;
  • Partnerships between AIDS service nongovernmental organizations and UN agencies will be strengthened;
  • Activities on scaling up towards universal access will be implemented. 
• A joint programme of activities will be developed and implemented in the following areas: 
  • implementation of the Governmental Action plans; 
  • strengthening and improving of the M&E system; 
  • advocacy activities; 
  • blood safety initiative; 
  • prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child; 
  • prevention of HIV/AIDS at work place; 
  • preparation of the Country proposal to the 7th Round of Global Fund; 
  • protection of human rights of PLHIV and vulnerable groups.

V. Financing mechanism

Regular funding will be managed and utilized by respective UN agency on parallel basis.     Each of the participating UN agencies will prepare their Progress Reports on programme implementation, and UNAIDS Programme Officer will combine them into a single one and submit it to the UN Theme Group on HIV, UNRC and UNAIDS Secretariat.

Donor funds received will be utilized  by UN agency in accordance with  Division of Labour (attached) which will become the programme Administering Agent. UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNHCR and UNODC will manage funds on parallel basis.  Each of the participating agencies will prepare their reports on programme implementation and donor funds utilization, and Administering Agent will combine them into a single one and submit it to the donor(s).

For effective management of the pooled financial resources separate Memorandum of Understanding between participating UN Agencies will be signed, thus clarifying roles and responsibilities of the Managing Agent and other concerned parties (for details see attached MoU). 

IV - Monitoring and Coordination

Core composition of the UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS will serve as an instrument for member organizations to jointly coordinate, monitor and evaluate progress on the implementation of the Joint UN Work Plan.

The involved UN agencies will provide day-to-day management of the Plan with UNAIDS CO responsible for arranging the reviews and supporting preparation of the programme implementation reports.

Strategic decisions on programme implementation will be taken by UNTG on HIV and based on agreed Division of Labour.    

UNDAF monitoring tools will be used by all agencies to measure progress of programme implementation. Field monitoring visits and reviews will be included in annual workplans of each agency and monitoring indicators agreed upon.

V. Membership:

Heads of UNAIDS co-sponsors (UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNHCR, WHO, UNODC, World Bank) represented at the country level are the members of the UNTG. The Theme Group Chair is chosen by the UN Country Team through a collegial process and appointed ideally for 2 years and on a rotating basis.