World AIDS Day has become the traditional day throughout the world to say the right things about HIV, BUT the real test comes on every other day of the year when we need to DO the right things to keep the promises. Good intentions and hope are not a method. Promises have to be followed up with specific targets, and monitoring to ensure those targets are met.
Two years ago on World AIDS Day the previous Secretary General launched the Federation's Global Alliance on HIV, and committed the Federation to doubling the amount of HIV work by 2010.
In the late 1990s the Federation was spending only about CHF 3 million each year on HIV work. Last year we pushed past CHF 45 million, meaning we are on track to keep our promise. 80 National Societies are now members of the Global Alliance on HIV, detailed plans and costings of exactly how each will double HIV work, and how Zones will support national society capacity building, can be seen on the Federation's website.
Our resource mobilisation target for 2010 is CHF 270, which is more feasible today as global HIV funding has increased from millions to billions of dollars. To stay on track to meet our target the Secretariat has to put intensive effort into supporting National Societies to access Global Fund to Fight AIDS TB and Malaria and other funding sources at the country level. The reality of HIV funding architecture is the 'country driven approach' - most donor support is dispersed at country level. The Global Alliance on HIV means national societies have technically credible plans and budgets to take to the table in country, and donors are taking the Federation's standardised approach as a signal the Federation is serious and organised.
Some resource mobilisation opportunities still exist at Zone and Global levels, and these must also be maximised.
So in summary, we are now in a position where we have a clear platform for co-operation (the Global Alliance on HIV), specific plans and budgets, and improved resource mobilisation. We need to build on this hard work and success, to DO MORE and DO BETTER. We aim to fully deliver this promise to double the Federation's HIV work by the end of 2010.
The banners hanging in the IFRC Geneva Secretariat's foyer today are an adaptation of the current 'Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise' materials of the World AIDS Campaign, and address key elements of how we will deliver over the coming year. These designs will be made available to all national societies for use throughout 2009.
Felicita Hikuam came to the Secretariat four years ago from Namibia Red Cross to develop our colourful 'Come Closer - you cannot get HIV by being a friend, kissing, hugging, playing, talking etc' anti-stigma campaign, and then went on to work for World AIDS Campaign. She suggested IFRC develop its own version of World AIDS Campaign materials focusing on how the IFRC will keep its promises over the coming year.
The first banner highlights our Global Alliance on HIV platform to DO MORE and DO BETTER. The Global Alliance approach is all about PARTNERSHIP, and how we can achieve much more by working together.
The second banner highlights our key 'added value'. National Society volunteers mobilise the community, usually the community where they live. The 'Partner' theme captures the spirit of this mobilisation work. The main job of National Societies is to support these volunteer change agents to DO MORE and DO BETTER. The Secretariat needs to advocate more strongly and convince donors and governments of the value of this work, and of the need to fund community systems strengthening.
The 3rd banner represents the foundation of our HIV work, partnership with PLHIV.
UNAIDS and IFRC will this month sign a new three year UNAIDS Collaborating Centre Agreement, to partner with the Global Network of PLHIV (GNP+) to reduce stigma and discrimination. The agreement includes work to improve how the needs of PLHIV are met in humanitarian situations. To maximise co-ordination, the Secretariat focal point person for this Collaboration will be co-located in the Principles and Values Department with the Gender expert. This, combined with Secretariat support to the newly formed network of Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers living with HIV, and the Human Resources Department's HIV in the Workplace programme, will mean we move closer to keeping our promise to make IFRC a better home for PLHIV.
HIV is something that touches us all, personally and professionally. We can DO MORE and DO BETTER, and by our actions show real leadership in the global HIV response.
Thank you for all you do to help the Federation to deliver its promises. I hope today that you feel proud to be part of this collective effort. You make the difference - thank you!
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