SUMMARY OF THE ADB-UNAIDS REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE

COOPERATION FUND FOR FIGHTING HIV AND AIDS IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
24 October 2013, Bangkok, Thailand

1.
The regional conference, jointly organized with UNAIDS, was held to review the
outcomes of the projects supported by the Cooperation Fund for Fighting HIV and AIDS in Asia
and the Pacific (the Fund); and to inform ADBs future key priority areas, financing mechanisms,
and regional cooperation to ensure progress towards a more sustainable response to HIV and
AIDS in the region. Participants include government representatives, civil society and nongovernment organizations, and other development partners.
2.
ADBs Principal Economist Myo Thant delivered the opening remarks and emphasized
that HIV and AIDS remain a socioeconomic development issue, which require strong political
leadership, financial and technical resources, knowledge solutions, and effective partnerships.
UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific Director Steve Krause provided the
regional overview and trends on HIV and AIDS in Asia and the Pacific region. The presentation
highlighted regional priorities to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 which includes: continue
investment in key populations, city focus for scale-up, use an investment approach, create
enabling environments, inclusion of AIDS in the post-2015 development agenda, and reach 9090-90 treatment targets by 2020.
3.
ADB provided an overview of the Fund1, presenting key contributions and highlighting
some pilot demonstration examples, such as integrating HIV and AIDS into non-health sector
operations, focusing on vulnerable and key affected populations, and innovating prevention
initiatives. This was followed by an interactive knowledge sharing session on the various
initiatives supported by the Fund, facilitating peer to peer learning and networking. Lastly, small
group discussions were held to develop recommendations for ADB on future priorities, financing
and regional collaboration.
A.

Interactive Knowledge Sharing on Good Practices and Lessons Learned

4.
Participants were given the opportunity to learn and discuss good practices, lessons and
innovations in response to HIV and AIDS in the region by visiting 3 of the 9 stations on the
different projects financed by the fund. Projects covered included: (i) HIV and AIDS Regional
Data Hub; (ii) study on HIV in cities in Asia and the Pacific; (iii) mitigating HIV risks associated
with road development; (iv) integration of HIV and AIDS interventions into infrastructure and the
mining sector; (v) strengthening local response to address HIV risks along the economic
corridors; (vi) HIV prevention in cross-border setting; (vii) CSO collaboration on HIV and AIDS
for mobile population; (ix) scale up responses for key affected population (learning site for sex
workers); and (ix) scale up promotion of HIV prevention programs through football.
B.

Recommendations on the Way Forward

5.
Group discussions were held to develop recommendations around (a) future priority
areas, (b) financing mechanisms, and (c) regional cooperation. The recommendations will
inform ADBs new operational plan for health, which is currently under development.
1

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a. Future priorities for HIV and AIDS programming

6.
Discussion focused on identifying how ADB can enhance the regional response to HIV
and AIDS, and how it can complement priorities of development partners. Participants
suggestions are summarized below:
6.1

6.2

6.3

6.4

6.5

6.6

ADB should clearly define its framework for regional health security. Although HIV and
AIDS is a development issue it is not a threat to health security in the region. HIV and
AIDS should be part of the broader health sector development agenda (e.g. urban
health, UHC for the poor and vulnerable). HIV and AIDS could be addressed through a
comprehensive support to migrants health or mobile populations health.
HIV and AIDS needs to be integrated in ADBs health sector development agenda,
including in the development of country-level investment projects for health systems
development.
A more objective and systematic health impact assessment should be in place to
effectively identify risks and vulnerabilities in ADB infrastructure projects and develop
relevant prevention programs.
Multi-sector approach to HIV prevention program in infrastructure development should
be strengthened, with the infrastructure line agencies being able to identify risks and
vulnerabilities to people and communities, and able to negotiate for appropriate
prevention programs. HIV prevention program should commensurate to the identified
risks/vulnerabilities and within the same implementation timeframe as the
infrastructure project that it supports. There should be effort to improve the capacity of
infrastructure/transport staff to monitor, evaluate, and report on the implementation of
HIV prevention programs; as well as stronger collaboration between
infrastructure/transport and health/HIV staff.
ADB should institute a mechanism to increase the capacity of community based
organizations who can effectively/efficiently manage prevention programs at the
community level. ADB should continue to focus on HIV prevention activities in crossborder areas.
ADB should continue supporting regional initiatives and sustain regional/sub-regional
cooperation.
b. Future financing to support HIV/AIDS programming in Asia and the Pacific

7.
With the anticipated levelling off of international financing and increasing demand on
domestic financing, discussion focused on suggestions in meeting the financing gaps, priority
areas for intervention, and how can ADB and other partners mobilize funding. Participants
confirmed the need for transition funding to help countries identify financing options for HIV and
AIDS prevention and treatment as well as a regional policy dialogue with national governments
and private sector. Participants suggestions are further summarized below:
7.1

ADB in collaboration with UNAIDS and other partners should develop a regional
investment case for long-term response in the region and also at the level of individual
countries, which should include prevention, treatment and care.

7.2
7.3

7.4

7.5

7.6
7.7

ADB should provide technical assistance to identify country specific financing models
for HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support.
ADB should engage in high-level advocacy with finance and economic leaders to
mobilize resources including domestic financing for HIV and AIDS prevention and
treatment.
ADB should support mobilization of funding for HIV and AIDS through health insurance
schemes. HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment need to be included in insurance
benefit packages or in government financed public health care services.
ADB should facilitate policy dialogue on improving efficiency of investments, on
investing in prevention, on promoting cost efficiency approach (e.g. through UHC), on
affordability of drugs and supplies, on convergence of efforts of stakeholders, on
improving collaboration between governments and CSOs.
ADB should devise a mechanism to improve financing of community-based and crossborder activities through CSO networks.
ADB should establish regional dialogue with the private sector (i.e. individual
corporations, business coalitions) to mobilize resources for priority activities, such as
work place prevention activities, support to affected communities in the transport
corridors; and inclusion of HIV prevention in CSR program of activities.
c. Regional collaboration mechanisms

8. Group discussion focused on how to improve collaboration to mobilize funding and

contribute to long-term regional health security. Participants suggestions are summarized
below:
8.1

8.2
8.3

8.4

ADB should establish a regional investment framework for HIV and AIDS, and engage
in high-level advocacy with economic/finance and political leaders to mobilize
adequate domestic resources.
ADB should facilitate expanding the partnership between government and corporate
sector in health and social protection.
Regional collaboration mechanism should include integrated health information
management system, integrated surveillance and reporting system, integrated
repository of information, coordination system, regular information sharing,
collaboration with regional programs and networks (e.g. ASEAN, GMS, JUNIMA), and
joint research (e.g. assess cross-border mechanisms, mapping of risks and
vulnerabilities) and joint border activities.
ADB should continue to support the implementation of the Joint Action Program on
HIV and mobility, which is covered in the MoU signed by the GMS countries. This
regional action plan should be reinforced with bilateral mechanisms and joint activities
in the border areas. Joint activities that are proven effective should be scaled up and
rolled-out in other areas.

9.
In closing, UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific Deputy Director
Pradeep Kakkattil highlighted the contributions made in terms of the diversity in activities funded
and impact of the Fund vis--vis the size of the Fund, as well as areas where performance
might have fallen short in terms of innovation and ADB lending its expertise in finance and
economic analysis. Looking forward, he emphasized (i) the need for some transitional financing
so as not to lose gains made; (ii) ADB to step up economic and investment analysis and to
facilitate discussion with ministries of finance; and (ii) investing in urban health and engaging
cities to respond.

10.
The process of consultation followed can be viewed in a video presentation at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuOIs27iCi0&feature=youtu.be.
11.
We thank all participants for the active contributions and are looking forward to
collaborating and coordinating with you in the future.