Funded by the Global Fund, the SHIFT (Sustainable HIV Financing in Transition) program is a two-year advocacy programme empowering CSOs and KP networks to influence domestic HIV financing processes. The programme organised its first regional forum on HIV financing in Kuala Lumpur from the 5th to 8th of September. Convened by SHIFT country partner the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC), the forum saw the participation of country partners across the 4 SHIFT countries: IAC, TNAF, ACHIEVE, MAC and regional partners: AFAO, APCOM and APCASO, in addition to the Ministry of Health Malaysia, Global Fund CCM members, Thailand NHSO representatives, SWING, UNAIDS and FHI 360.
Thailand country partner participated in the meeting
Responding to the pressing need to engage HIV financing sustainability especially as countries in the region transition out of international donor support, the 2-day programme covered areas such as domestic HIV financing, CSO funding mechanisms, financing sustainability and CSO leadership. A key objective of the forum is to encourage cross country learning and knowledge sharing. Notable presentations included an overview of HIV Financing in Malaysia delivered by Dr. Anita Suleiman of the Ministry of Health, regional perspectives from Dr Khin Cho of UNAIDS Datahub, and from FHI 360’s Dr Stephen Mills. Country SHIFT partners delivered a SWOT analysis of their domestic HIV financing mechanisms, mapping key points of influence for financing advocacy.
The forum was followed by 2 days of SHIFT programme progress review, exploring topics such as allocative efficiency, fiscal space, capacity development and advocacy. SHIFT principle recipient AFAO delivered presentations on SHIFT baseline evaluation and Theory of Change, in addition to feedback on the programme’s progress. Regional partner APCASO delivered the results of their capacity needs assessment, as well as the CSO advocacy framework for influencing domestic HIV financing. Finally, regional partner APCOM delivered presentations on National situational assessments of the 4 countries, cost of criminalisation, role of communications and campaign process, strategic information and SHIFT’s knowledge management hub on HIV financing.
Participants came away with new insights on financing mechanisms, innovative financing case studies, as well as a map of domestic financing mechanisms to guide advocacy initiatives.
Min Fuh Teh, Strategic Information Officer of APCOM presented Country Situational Assessment, Cost of Criminalization and Strategic information
What is SHIFT ?
For those who are not familiar with SHIFT, this 2-year Global Fund programme focuses on four priority countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. The programme works towards a sustainable, cost effective and strategically allocated funding for HIV in transition countries, that ensures active participation and coverage for key populations and civil society organisations. It puts centre-stage the civil society and key population response. People living with HIV (PLHIV), men who have sex with men (MSM), people who use drugs (PWID), sex workers (SW), transgender people (TG), young KP and gender perspectives are prioritised in its engagement with transitional HIV financing.
As a regional Sub-recepient under SHIFT programme, APCOM will take responsibility for communications as well as developing a HIV financing knowledge management hub and strategic information for the programme. For more update, please follow the programme’s Facebook page.
