Africa: HIV/AIDS (Hansard, 16 June 2004)

§ Baroness Amos

The response of the Department for International Development (DfID) to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) is being stepped up. DfID is working with partners at the global level on advocacy and supporting evidence-based best practice. At the national level, ensuring effective policy and programme responses to the needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS is a high priority for us and for the achievement of the millennium development goals (MDGs).

DfID recognises the urgent need to accelerate support for children affected by HIV/AIDS. The new UK strategy on HIV/AIDS will present a clear position on orphans and vulnerable children, which DfID expects to be a key priority. DfID's new policy of HIV/AIDS treatment and care will also have implications for the response to OVCs made vulnerable because of HIV/AIDS through the prolongation of life for parents, guardians and for children.

DfID is increasingly incorporating OVC perspectives into country programming. For example, DfID has supported government responses to OVCs in Malawi and Zimbabwe. In the former, DfID has been working to ensure that social protection measures for families affected by HIV/AIDS are integrated into the poverty reduction strategies (PRSP). These measures included targeted nutrition and cash transfers, legislation on inheritance and the introduction of less intensive crops to affected households.

DfID endorses the Strategic Framework for the Protection, Care and Support of Orphans and Children made Vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. DfID will be working closely with development partners at country level to help to operationalise the approaches recommended. In preparing our new HIV/AIDS strategy DfID will be considering ways in which we can better work with partners to support governments in their efforts to develop national policies, legislation, planning and programmes for OVCs and their care givers. DfID shall be advocating with governments that they appropriately prioritise the allocation of resources for OVCs. DfID is also considering how we can best assist governments in improving the monitoring of the results of OVC interventions.

DfID will work with development partners to ensure strengthened and sustained support for community-based responses to care and support of OVCs. DfID sees this as a key element in the national HIV/AIDS response and has already signalled in the UK call for action that we will be working closely with 74WA the United States in countries in Africa starting with Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia. This will provide opportunities to collaborate in improving support for OVCs in those countries.

At the global level DfID will continue to participate in the global partners forum for children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS, which is convened by UNICEF. This has enabled the development of the strategic framework, the sharing of information, better co-ordination of global efforts and strengthening of advocacy. In addition, DfID will advocate effective strategic action for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS through existing international development processes such as education for all (EFA), the EFA fast track initiative and the WHO/UNAIDS 3X5 (3 million people on treatment by 2005) initiative.

Finally, DfID is calling for stronger political direction in the fight against HIV/AIDS. DfID will make HIV/AIDS a centrepiece of our presidencies of the G8 and EU in 2005. DfID anticipates that this will include opportunities for addressing issues concerning children affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. DfID sees the need for better funding, including raising our own commitments. DfID will make HIV/AIDS a priority for the extra £320 million the UK will be devoting to Africa by 2006 and the new UK government strategy will set out policy guidance.