The Importance of a Multisectoral approach in

addressing HIV/AIDSAfrica Region HIV/AIDS Consultation on Multisectoral Response

Rwanda June 2007

Elizabeth Lule

ACTafrica

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What is a multisectoral Approach?

• Involving all sectors of society, governments, business, civil society organizations, communities, PLWHA at all levels in addressing the causes and impact of HIV/AIDS.

• It requires action to engender political will, leadership and coordination, develop and sustain new partnerships, strengthen capacity of all sectors to make an effective contribution

• It has to be dynamic, flexible, strategic and coordinated

Commonwealth Think Tank (2001)

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HIV/AIDS is a broad development challengeEconomic and Social Impact

Affects workers in their most productive years, may reduce/depletes saving rates and disposable income

Decrease in productivity and increased absenteeism Increases turn-over, hiring and training of new

workers, death/disability benefits Reduces expected returns to investment in human

capital and disruption of transfer of human capital between parents and children

Contributes to persistence of poverty and inequality, affecting both the stock as well as the accumulation of human capital

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HIV/AIDS is development challenge Economic and Social Impact(2)

Tax base shrinks Social cohesion and social capital decline Long-run impact on socioeconomic

development can be substantial Studies surveyed typically predict 1% to 1.5%

declines in GDP growth rates for the worst affected countries (prevalence rates >20%)

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Demographic Impact: Life expectancy at birth in selected most affected

countries 1980-1985 to 2005-2010

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HIV/AIDS Affects All SectorsHEALTHHEALTH

• AIDS has caused between 19-53% of all deaths of government health care employees in Africa.

• Limited resources allocated to AIDS resulting in neglect of other health issues.

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

• AIDS decreases the quality of education, the availability of teachers and the number of children enrolled in schools.

AGRICULTURE AND FOOD AGRICULTURE AND FOOD INSECURITYINSECURITY

• In the ten worst affected African countries the agricultural labor force will decline between 11-26% by 2020 resulting in lower food production.

INFRASTURCTURE, INFRASTURCTURE, TRANSPORT & MININGTRANSPORT & MINING

• Potential high-risk behavior for workers due to mobility and time away from family.

• In Cameroon, a study found HIV prevalence of 7.6% in men away from home for more than 31 days, 3.4% in those away less than 31 days and 1.4% in stationary.

PRIVATE SECTORPRIVATE SECTOR• Increased costs and absenteeism leading to decreased productivity and profits.

• ILO projects labor force in 38 countries will be between 5-35% smaller because of HIV/AIDS.

ECONOMIC IMPACTECONOMIC IMPACT• HIV/AIDS adversely affects GDP, exacerbates income inequality and increases poverty.

• AIDS destroys existing human capital and mechanisms for human capital formation.

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Drivers of the Epidemic require a multisectoral response

• Poverty and social exclusion• Gender Inequalities• Conflict• Violence• Culture and Social norms/practices• Labor mobility and transport/trade corridors

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Benefits of a Multisectoral Approach

• Coordinated political, economic and social efforts at different levels

• Efforts at national level targeting specific sectors and groups complement the interventions at the individual level

• Inclusion of all stakeholders to play a role within their comparative advantages e.g faith based groups, media, business coalitions, PLWHA

• Information Sharing and learning• Generate demand for accountability and results

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Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program (MAP)

in Africa Basic principles/activities of the MAP in 2000:

Emergency program in response to the epidemic Defined AIDS as a development issue Establish national AIDS councils to coordinate a

multisectoral response National strategies with social mobilization for “multi-

sectoral” demand driven response to the full range of prevention, care, support, mitigation and treatment

Civil society would receive most of the funds for a broad population based response required for behavior change

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Challenges for a multisectoral approach

Tailoring the response to multiple and diverse epidemics The need for leadership and sustained political

commitment in both public, private sectors and civil society

Moving beyond work place responses to addressing vulnerabilities within specific sectors and groups

Coordination across sectors Weak regulatory and legal frameworks Sustainability of the response Constructive engagement between government and civil

society and private sector Generating grassroots demand for accountability, results

and improved governance

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THANK YOU