HIV/AIDS: A Development Challenge for the Global Community

Dr Timothy Thahane, Lesotho's Minister of Finance and Development Planning, at the meeting on HIV/AIDS held at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, UK, 30 June 2005

HIV/AIDS is a development challenge that must be addressed because of its impact on people and the progress of nations, says Dr Timothy Thahane, Lesotho's Minister of Finance and Development Planning. He spoke at a meeting on HIV/AIDS held at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, UK, on 30 June 2005. It was organised by the Royal African Society in collaboration with the Henry Kaiser Family Foundation and the UK's Overseas Development Institute.
 
Dr Thahane said: "HIV/AIDS is a development issue because it affects the lives of a group of people who are most productive. We have to address HIV/AIDS, otherwise there will be no people to educate, no people to work with in the future. We're seeing in Africa a high rate of infection among the people on whom governments have made heavy investments in education. Women are hardest hit. They are central to the stability of the family in African societies."
 
The Minister stated that the response to HIV/AIDS needed to form a central part of every country's development strategy. Domestic resources had to be mobilised to ensure accountability and effectiveness of aid programmes. Strong institutions were needed to plan, execute and monitor these programmes. Local administrative and community structures had to be strengthened to promote education about the prevention of HIV/AIDS. Greater resources were required in the provision of antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS.

"We support an increase in aid, but there must be co-ordination, and the assistance provided should not bypass government structures," Dr Thahane added.
 
Simon Maxwell, Director of the Overseas Development Institute, said 75 per cent of all aid to recipient countries goes through the bilateral system, with the remaining 25 per cent being multilateral aid. "In a typical country there are as many as 30 or 40 bilateral agencies. In a typical sector within that country, there will be 15 or 20 bilateral agencies. How on earth is the developing country supposed to cope with that problem?"
 
Mr Maxwell stressed how consideration had to be given to the absorptive capacity of the aid recipient country, its delivery mechanisms and its politics. The constraints on absorptive capacity were unique to each country. He noted that the alignment and harmonisation of aid was also crucial.
 
"Alignment is about making sure that you follow the government rather than trying to impose separate structures. It is best to have just one budget led by the government. There needs to be coherence, consistency, predictability there with support for local priorities and systems. Harmonisation is about simplifying procedures so that the government isn't dealing with dozens of different partners and donors."
 
Nancy Kassebaum Baker, a Commissioner for the Commission for Africa and retired US Senator, called for sustainable approaches in the long-term financing of HIV/AIDS, including greater collaboration and accountability among the donor community.
 
"HIV/AIDS threatens stability and security. Peace is threatened not only by terrorism, but also by such a pandemic as HIV/AIDS. It isn't just a question of adding more money. I don't think we can continue with the same delivery systems that we have, and be able to reach the goals we all desire," she said.

 

CNIS - Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 242, 6 July 2005