Responding to a development Crisis
Responses to HIV/AIDS and Gender have been addressed together with Environment and Energy under the crosscutting pillar within the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) in line with the national development strategies as spelled out in the NSGRP/MKUKUTA for Tanzania Mainland and NSGRP/MKUZA for Zanzibar. The United Nations Development Assistance Framework has also incorporated HIV/AIDS and Gender as crosscutting dimensions. UNDP contribution to the national multisectoral response against AIDS and mainstreaming of gender dimensions will be provided within the framework of the UN Joint Programme. The UNDP support is intended to contribute to the realization of the national priorities and the MDG targets on halting and beginning to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, and promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women. Situational analysis The 2004 Tanzania HIV Indicator Survey (THIS) carried out on the mainland indicated a generalized epidemic of 7% in the sexually active population (15 to 49 age group), with infections higher in women (8%) than men (6%). According to the HIV validation survey (2002), Zanzibar has a low prevalence in the general population at 0.6% However, HIV is more concentrated in high-risk sub population groups namely, drug users, men having sex with men (MSM), and sex workers. A survey of HIV infection among substance users showed a prevalence of 28% in Injecting Drug Users (IDU). Unless appropriate strategies are put in place to contain the high HIV infections in these groups, Zanzibar is in danger of developing into a generalized epidemic. Tanzania declared HIV & AIDS a national disaster at the end of 1999. As a result Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) and Zanzibar AIDS Commission were established to lead and coordinate partners and actors involved in the national multisectoral responses. Also the health and non-health sectors and actors were all directed to integrated HIV/AIDS in their strategies and to initiate workplace programmes. In addition efforts were taken to integrated HIV/AIDS in the first generation PRSPs for mainland and Zanzibar in 2001. However, it is within the current NSGRP ("MKUKUTA") and MKUZA for Zanzibar that significant achievement has been realized in mainstreaming HIV/AIDS together with Gender, environment and other crosscutting issues. Another step was the adoption of the "Three Ones" - One Coordinating Body, One national strategy and One M&E framework - that are now in place and being implemented by Governments, CSO/NGOs, Faith Based Organizations and with support from Development Partners. Challenges Despite all the efforts by the Government and other stakeholders to contain the epidemic in this country, new infections are still on the increase, particularly among young people, women and young girls, high risk groups and in urban and rural areas, thus putting in danger the attainment of the MDG goals and national development targets. Also, stigma and discrimination particularly against people living with HIV and AIDS is still prevalent in the society. In order to address these challenges the Government has decided to review and develop a new national multisectoral strategy framework (2007 to 2012) by engaging all stakeholders and with technical support from the UN and other development partners. On the other hand the Government of Zanzibar decided to conduct its first joint review in 2007 of the national strategic plan, which involved all stakeholders and partners. UNDP response to HIV/AIDS UNDP support for HIV/AIDS and Gender will address the following strategies as articulated in the CPAP and integrated in the UN Joint Programme. These strategies are also in line with GTT recommendations and Division of Labor agreed upon by the UN Theme Group in Tanzania. Therefore, UNDP will lead the UN response in integrating HIV/AIDS in human development, governance of HIV/AIDS responses, and addressing human rights and gender. Furthermore, UNDP will manage the pooled funding and provide programme management oversight of the UN Joint Programme in its capacity as the Management Agent. In this respect UNDP under the CPAP will contribute to ensure the following: Increase adoption of equitable pro-poor and gender sensitive economic policies and programme Attention will be paid to promoting equity, a focus on the poor and most vulnerable and addressing gender, regional, and other disparities through strengthening civil society networks and promoting effective engagement in policy dialogue. Support will also be provided to evidence based HIV and AIDS and gender mainstreaming strategies and planning in the public, private sectors and higher learning institutions through impact assessment studies, enhancing technical assistance and capacity development. This will contribute to realizing the following output. Improve national productivity and competitiveness through decent employment opportunities, equitable access to effective use of productive resources and greater market access UNDP support will focus on capacity strengthening of youth, women and vulnerable groups including PLHAs and sensitization on micro-finance, micro-insurance and business development services (BDS) will be supported as part of the district and community capacity enhancement, so as to address marginalization and equity issues. Enhance and provide access to systems of justice, law-and-order, public information and education that promote and protect human rights and freedoms Support will be provided to the development and implementation of HIV&AIDS legislation through capacity strengthening of government systems, legal networks, the media, legislators, PLHA and women networks and other partners to establish a comprehensive legal framework addressing gender and human rights issues related to the epidemic. Increase access to comprehensive prevention, care and treatment, and impact mitigation of HIV/AIDS and other major diseases UNDP will support the scaling up of the Community Capacity Enhancement through placing national UNVs in districts throughout the country to provide technical capacity support to Local Councils. In collaboration with the Government, CSO/NGOs, the private sector and other UN Agencies and development partners, UNDP will support the revision and development of new multisectoral strategic frameworks for the mainland and Zanzibar, joint reviews and on-going institutional capacity strengthening of TACAIDS and the Zanzibar AIDS Commission (ZAC). In addition technical assistance will be provided to enhance effective utilization at all levels of national and external HIV&AIDS funding, including Global Fund and TMAP. The programme will also support the work place interventions, including training and provision of information to employers and workers in public and private sectors, Local Government Authorities, and including UN staff and their families to protect themselves from HIV and AIDS. |
