1. RIATT/OVC-CABA-WCAR Update and Challenges IATT –Steering Committee meeting – 9-11 Sept 2009 – Washington Christine Naré Kaboré – WCARO -

2. Presentation Outline The Context The regional response structure: RIATT/CABA-WCA Key joint results Challenges

3. Adult (15-49) HIV/AIDS Prevalence rate in WCA - 2007

4. The Context of WCA Of Africa’s 361,301,000 children, over 50% live in West and Central Africa and 26% in Nigeria and DRC alone. The region is home to more than 20 millions of children are orphans (due to all causes) About ¼ of orphans are due to AIDS More important number of children are vulnerable Government and partners response on children and HIV/AIDS in WCA thus faces other competing development priorities

5. The context of WCA Poverty is widespread: about 50% of the children live with less than 1$ a day (Congo 54%, Senegal and Mali 44%) WCA also lags far behind all other regions for most social development indicators Net primary enrolment/attendance ratio is (62% male, 55% Female) < 5 mortality rate is (169 per thousand live births) About half of the 24 countries live in situation of conflicts, post-conflicts or recurrent political instability

6. Figures >30% in the agro pastoral zone of Sahel Prevalence of food insecurity (WCAR)

7. Figures Almost 40% in sahel countries Prevalence of chronic malnutrition < 5 children

8. HIV Programming in WCA HIV, and more specifically Children and AIDS, is not naturally on top of the development agenda of many institutions OVC/CABA is the marginalized dimension of the HIV response in countries Limited big donors (Global Fund becoming the main funding source for HIV in the region Momentum for OVC/CABA built at regional level thanks to the campaign « Unite for children Unite against AIDS » and the RIATT/CABA-WCA

9. The RIATT/CABA-WCAR From informal (2004) to formal (2006 to present..) mechanism Different denominations and composition over time UNICEF and international NGO:UNICEF, PLAN, FHI (2004) UNICEF, UNAIDS, Save the Children,PLAN intern., AWARE- HIV/FHI,USAID, IFRC,WFP (2006) Regional Support and Coordination (revitalization meeting) Oct. 17th, 2006 Group extended and Formally called RIATT (2007) RIATT/CABA-WCA TOR adopted in 2008

10. RIATT/CABA-WCAR Key functions Oversight and guidance on OVC/CABA: policy and programming, definition of norms and standards Support for Resource mobilization and use Technical assistance and capacity strengthening especially for civil society and faith-based organizations Strategic information: promote evidence-based, documentation of promising pratices Advocacy Building strategic partnership

11. RIATT/CABA-WCA members (13) UN, international and regional NGOs and FBOs. UNICEF (Secretariat) Plan International World Food Programme IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross) Save the Children (Sweden) UNAIDS USAID/Afrique de l’Ouest AfriCASO World Vision SCEAM: Symposium des Conferences Episcopales d’Afrique et Madagascar - (FBO - Catholic) Coordination des Reseaux de Religieux d’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre (FBO- All 3 religions) RAP+AO (Réseaux Africain des Personnes Vivant avec le VIH) PLWHA CETA: Conference des Eglises de toute l’Afrique (FBO-Protestant Alliance International (regional office will be approached) AWARE-HIV/AIDS (does not exist anymore)

12. Some Key Actions/Results Strategic Partnership built and CABA representation/leadership reinforced at regional level Existence and Implementation of a joint workplan since 2007 Two main regional conferences organized in 2006 and 2007: Civil Society Organizations Call To Action on 14 priority action points to support the scaling-up of the campaign 4P (2006) – Endorsed by more than 100 participants Resolution for integration of children in AIDS agenda adopted by religious leaders and FB0s including Catholics, Protestants and Muslims groups (2007) – endorsed by 50 high level religious leaders and FBO Joint action to reinforce the integration of CABA in Global Fund processes. RIATT/CABA–WCA has been instrumental in the setting up of the regional initiative to support country for Proposal development. Coordination by UNAIDS (More than 1 billion USD mobilized in Round 8).

13. Some Key Actions/Results Joint promotion of CABA issues in international fora. eg. ICASA 2008: Special session on Status, challenges and the way forward for OVC programs in Africa (Co-organizers: UNICEF, Plan International, RIATT/CABA-WCA, AWARE-HIV) Satellite session on Vulnerable children living in different stages and types of the epidemic: similar impact and relevance for different approaches in the response (Co-organizers: UNICEF – Save The Children US – RIATT/CABA- WCAR – WFP) Joint research on psychological needs of vulnerable children and children affected by AIDS (Plan Intern. and AWARE-HIV) Joint assessment of FBOs response on HIV in WCA (UNAIDS, UNICEF, SCEAM) Mentor-pro initiative for building CBOs, sub-recipients capacity for implementation of Global Fund grants (in development) AfriCAS0, UNICEF

14. RIATT/CABA-WCA commitments Common agreement reached on the need to better take into account the region specific context for programming on OVC and CABA Use the RIATT as the platform to sustain the momentum and ensure response for children on equity and human’s right grounds Jointly develop a Regional strategic framework for programming on OVC/CABA that will take into the need to strengthen key dimensions in the responses (social protection, building and strengthening systems, including the community systems) Design a strategy that will ensure adequate integration of OVC/CABA in national AIDS strategy, including support to the development of operational plans as Global Fund will directly finance such plans in the future

15. Challenges and issues for discussion Balancing institutions commitments for RIATT/CABA and other Competing priorities (workplans : new activities?) Meeting Operating modalities 2 institutionalized annual meetings - good presence for meetings lack of continuity in participation (different persons) Competing agenda Limited interactions through mail Building ownership and accountabilities for all the members: perceived as UNICEF responsibility Agreement for joint activities but no commitment for funding Heavily relying on UNICEF for guidance in programming and new development (exception of WFP) Maintaining truly active partnership especially for non international NGOs Limited number of staff Limited financial resources (to finance joint activity, joint missions and to attend the RIATT meetings) Engaging and Building all members ownership in the development of the regional strategic framework