Progress report: SANAC and NSP Implementation

1. Progress report: SANAC and NSP Implementation Portfolio Committee on Health 21 August 2007

2. Presentation outline • Purpose of report • Background • SANAC Progress • Membership • Meetings • Trust • Secretariat • NSP Progress • Challenges

3. Purpose • This report provides an overview of progress made: • Since SANAC was launched • Since endorsement of the NSP

4. Background • SANAC was formed in 2000, replacing the Interministerial Committee on AIDS (IMC), which was at the time the first high level political body that provided guidance, leadership and political oversight on HIV and AIDS • In 2006, SANAC was restructured into a 3 tier structure, to improve its efficiency • The new structure: SANAC high level, Programme Implementation Committee (PIC) and Sectoral Coordinating Committees • New SANAC was launched in April 2007

5. Membership of SANAC • Similar to the old SANAC, the current membership is broad and represents all relevant sectors • When the new SANAC was launched, not all civil society sectors were represented • Government has since supported some sectors to convene sectoral summits to elect representatives, and the council is now fully constituted with the following sectors

6. Membership of SANAC cont… • Government: Ministries of Education, Health, Social Development, Correctional Services, Minerals and Energy, Public Service and administration and Transport • Non-government sector: Business, PWA, Labour, religious, NGO/CBO, traditional leaders, traditional healers, youth, academic and research organizations working in health, higher education, women, men, human rights, health professionals, disability, children, and sports and entertainment.

7. Meetings • SANAC is meant to meet twice annually • The first meeting of SANAC since inauguration will take place on 10 September 2007 to consider amongst others: • NSP implementation plans for all sectors • co-ordination of donor support for sectoral activities • NSP Adopt M&E framework • The first meeting of the Programme Implementation committee will take place on 27 August 2007 to: • confirm its terms of reference • constitute the technical task teams • agree on the process for compiling the 2006-7 UNGASS report • consider issues that have policy implications • This committee will meet four times a year

8. SANAC Trust • Objective of the Trust is to provide or secure funding for the South African National Aids Council, and promote and facilitate the execution by the SANAC • Since SANAC took a decision in May 2006 to conduct a review of its operations, a decision was taken that support of SANAC activities through the Trust would await the conclusion of the review • Board of Trustees will meet in October to approve activities of sectors to be funded through the Trust (guided by the first meeting of the new SANAC in September)

9. SANAC Secretariat • In order for the secretariat to efficiently support the Council in executing its mandate, it should be able to provide the necessary leadership and technical support to council • This requires that the necessary resources to be made available (human and financial) • The Department of Health has elevated the head of secretariat to Chief Director level, and the post is the process of being advertised.

10. NSP Progress • The National Strategic Plan for 2007-2011 was also endorsed by all sectors in April 2007 • NSP guides all sectors including government, civil society and private sector in the response to HIV and AIDS • Flows from 2000-2005 strategic plan • Maintains 4 key priority areas: Prevention, Treatment Care and Support, Research Monitoring and Surveillance, Human Rights and Access to Justice • In addition provides targets across the 4 priority areas

11. NSP Progress cont… Government sector • Government is well organized to discharge the responsibilities in the NSP • Department of Health has facilitated meetings of government departments, to discuss the programme of action, and to map out how departments would implement the interventions • Departments have engaged with the NSP, and understand what needs to be done • Departments are finalizing implementation plans which include both internal workplace programmes and external programmes • First meeting to discuss plans was held on 29 June, a follow-up meeting was held on 20 August and further unpacked at the plans • This process unfolds concurrently with implementation

12. NSP Progress cont… Government sector: Communications… • GCIS, GAAP unit of the DOH and other departmental communication activities have been set in motion • Key messages have been developed • A communication strategy has been drafted • Simplified version of the NSP has also been drafted • The Khomamani tender was awarded, and in addition to behavior change communication, the Khomanani campaign will also embark on popularizing the details of the NSP • The campaign will also include activities at community level

13. NSP Progress… Government sector: M & E and Costing • Department of Health has convened a multi sectoral team of experts in M & E including other government departments, to develop an M & E framework • The first draft has been produced and will be refined (2nd draft) and taken to a stakeholder consultation workshop on 3 September for inputs • Final draft will be presented to SANAC on 10 September for endorsement • A detailed costing exercise is underway

14. NSP Progress… Civil Society sectors: • Sectors are at various stages in the development of their implementation plans • A standardized format for implementation plans and reporting were developed • Technical assistance was also offered to the sectors • Although the deadline for submission was end of June, only two sectors have submitted plans • Most sectors are working towards presenting implementation plans at the programme implementation Committee meeting of 27 August

15. Challenges • Delays in preparation of implementation plans by civil society • Capacity to implement and monitor and evaluate implementation