§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what efforts the UK Government is making to improve the understanding by overseas governments of the challenge facing the states of Africa in tackling HIV and AIDS. [106763]
§ Clare ShortThere are a number of ways in which the UK Government are improving understanding of the challenges faced by African countries in tackling HIV and AIDS. Working at a country level, many of our bilateral programmes are supporting National AIDS Councils to generate knowledge–helping to build capacity in developing strategies that are based on sound evidence, to prevent the spread of HIV, care for those already living with HIV/AIDS, and to mitigate40W against the impact of the disease. At a regional level, the International Partnership against AIDS in Africa (IPAA), a DFID funded initiative, is also helping to build governments' understanding of the epidemic so they can scale up their country responses, and assisting in the sharing of lessons learnt across the region.
More specifically, in South Africa DFID is co-funding (with USAID and AusAid) a number of research papers into the economic impact of HIV/ AIDS. We plan to undertake similar knowledge generation in Kenya and Malawi.
My Department is also supporting the UNAIDS' initiative 'AIDS In Africa—Scenarios for the Future'. This innovative project aims to map out the possible impact of HIV/AIDS epidemic on Africa in the next 20 years in order to identify what needs to be done to alter the course of events.
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§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to(a) governments and (b) non-governmental organisations in Africa to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS. [106761]
§ Clare ShortMy Department recognises that HIV/ AIDS is a terrible human catastrophe and is one of the most important development challenges facing Africa Over £180 million was committed to programmes focusing on HIV/AIDS and sexual health interventions in sub-Saharan Africa last year, with intensive bi-lateral action in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique. Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Over £25 million has been committed to support the International Partnership Against AIDS in Africa (IPAA) initiative—a regional, Africa-led initiative aimed at building Governments' national responses to the AIDS crisis, with a focus on Ethiopia. Rwanda, Burundi, and Ghana. In addition to working with governments, DFID also supports the efforts of non-governmental and civil society organisations in their efforts at preventing the spread of HIV, caring for those already living with the disease, and working to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on people's lives. Support is given through DFID's Challenge Fund and Partnership Programme Agreements, with international NGOs, as well as directly to local NGOs and civil society organisations through our in-country programmes.