1. UNESCO’s Response to HIV/AIDS in the Asia-Pacific
History, Trends and Directions
Jan Wijngaarden, UNESCO Bangkok

2. This presentation…
Taking stock: what happened with UNESCO’s response to HIV/AIDS in the region since our workshop in Hanoi in 2003?
Analysis main trends so far
Future developments and trends
Challenges

3. Taking stock: what happened with UNESCO’s response to HIV/AIDS in the region since our workshop in Hanoi in 2003?

4. Milestones
1987: 24th session of General Conference includes HIV/AIDS in Regular Budget
1991: ‘Venice Appeal’ – Preventive education is important, need to mobilize leaders in Africa
Regional seminars for decision makers in the education sector were held aimed at behavior change
1997: UNESCO Coordination Mechanism (5 sectors) established; chaired by Natural Sciences

5. Milestones 1998-2001 1998-2003: Cultural Approach project
1998: Huge Brazil project starts with UNODC
1999: Preventive Education discussed at General Conference
2000: Executive Board orders UNESCO global strategy on HIV/AIDS
2001: IIEP becomes UNESCO coordinator
2001: First UNESCO global strategy on HIV/AIDS prevention education
2001: UNAIDS withholds UBW funds due to UNESCO failure to report on expenses

6. Milestones 2002-2003 2002: UNAIDS resumes UBW payments
2002: UNESCO Asia-Pacific HIV/AIDS strategy approved
2003: A/P HIV/AIDS coordination unit established; full-time HIV person hired in Viet Nam
2003: Advocacy Kit developed
2003: UNESCO Global and Regional strategies revised based on global HIV evaluation of UNESCO
2003: First A/P Capacity Building workshop in Hanoi

7. Milestones 2004-5 2004: Global Initiative launched in Zambia
2004: Full-time HIV officers hired in Kazakhstan, China, Indonesia and Thailand/Lao
2004: Bangkok Conference – unprecedented UNESCO visibility
2004: First US funds for HIV to UNESCO in Asia-Pacific (MSM)
2005: Second Focal Point capacity building workshop
2005: EXB funds for A/P almost double with arrival of OPEC funds

8. Asia – Pacific: Main developments 2002-now
Rapid expansion in terms of funding;
Rapid expansion in terms of staff;
New and improved tools were developed and implemented;
HIV/AIDS is high(er) on the agenda in most UNESCO offices than before;
Quality of technical and policy advice provided by UNESCO improved;
New programmatic directions.

9. UNESCO A/P funds for HIV/AIDS

10. Funding issues
Still, most HIV/AIDS funds flow through Bangkok or come directly from Paris…
Need to enhance field office capacity to raise funds locally…
What do we get back from ‘our’ 13%?

11. UNESCO A/P full-time staff for HIV/AIDS

12. Staffing issues
Evaluation report: UNESCO should set aside more funds and staff for HIV/AIDS
All full-time HIV/AIDS staff in the region is funded from regional or HQ EXB funds, except Thailand, Cambodia and Uzbekistan
Difference in experience, Scopes of Work – challenge & opportunity

13. New and improved tools
JFIT/UNAIDS funded teacher training manual was evaluated, revised and improved; implemented in 3 countries
Advocacy Toolkit was further developed and implemented in 10 countries
Better HIV/AIDS on-line resources; clearing house, calendar, website

14. HIV/AIDS higher on agenda…
UNESCO chaired the CCO/UNAIDS;
Global Initiative on HIV/AIDS and Education launched;
Bangkok Conference good for UNESCO
More countries involved in regional HIV/AIDS network than before;
More regular budget available for HIV/AIDS (but still a fraction of what is needed);
More reference made to HIV/AIDS in UNESCO documents, speeches

15. Quality of TA improved…
More technical expertise was recruited to work on HIV/AIDS in the region;
Regular TA provision by UNESCO Bangkok;
Second HIV/AIDS capacity building workshop held;
Need for more?

16. New programmatic directions
New target groups: Men having Sex with Men, ethnic minority populations, children, out-of-school youth;
New approaches: Peer education, outreach, web-based counseling, radio programming, CLC
New partners: MOH, US CDC, new NGOs
New Level: Moving from central level to local / district level advocacy / tools

17. Analysis of main trends so far

18. How did we get where we are?
Get high quality human resources in;
Provide training and assistance
Link them up where appropriate;
Create partnerships with other agencies;
Raise more funds locally and regionally

19. It should be noted that…
Many other UN agencies have also achieved a greater role and more action on HIV/AIDS;
Much more funding is available now for HIV/AIDS compared to a few years ago;
UNESCO easily prioritizes – but does still not put its own money where its mouth is

20. Future trends

21. Where will we in 2008?
A full-time HIV/AIDS and School Health focal point in nearly all UNESCO offices;
A further doubling of our EXB resources;
At least 30% of funds raised at the national or cluster level rather than BKK or HQ;
A more multi-sectoral strategy and approach to HIV/AIDS – not only focusing on Education;
Better collaboration with UNAIDS, UNICEF and UNFPA in many countries

22. Challenges

23. Challenges Apathy in education ministries in many countries;
Cooperation with UNICEF remains difficult – especially vis a vis the education ministry;
UNESCO will over-stretch itself in some countries and still have lack of funds in others;
Internal: risk of duplication by HQ projects, Institute-based projects, regional, national level projects
Role of Nat Coms needs to be strengthened;
Role of Science, SHS, CLT and CI sectors

24. THANK YOU
For your attention!