Backgrounder

The Government of Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency, has invested approximately $515 million internationally over the last three fiscal years to fight HIV/AIDS in developing countries. The following projects in Africa, announced during the XVII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008), build on Canada’s commitment.

$12 million to support civil society organizations in South Africa - 2008-2013

Through the Canadian High Commission, the HIV/AIDS Response Fund in South Africa will help local organizations reduce HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence, and its impact on its citizens. This Fund supports the Government of South Africa’s strategic plan to combat HIV/AIDS. The Fund will provide financial support to approximately 15 South African civil society partners working in HIV/AIDS each year.  The Fund will help organizations develop HIV/AIDS information, education and communications materials; organize support groups for persons living with HIV/AIDS and women survivors of rape and violence; and support income-generating activities for persons living with HIV/AIDS. 

$10 million to Mozambique’s National Council to combat AIDS (Conselho Nacional de combate ao SIDA) Phase 2 - 2008-2012

Canada is renewing its funding to Mozambique’s National AIDS Council Common Fund. In order to deliver aid efficiently and ensure donor harmonization, the Fund was created to support the plans of the Government of Mozambique’s National AIDS Council. Canadian funds, along with funds from other donors, will help the Council to continue to support and implement prevention, care, and treatment initiatives in partnership with a variety of stakeholders including local, national and international NGOs, community-based organizations, government ministries and the private sector.

$10 million to the United Nations Development Program in Mozambique - 2008-2009

The One UN Pilot Program will bring together and reform the practices of several agencies within the United Nations System in Mozambique, in order to jointly implement development programming in an effective and efficient manner. The Program will focus on four key areas: governance, human capital, HIV/AIDS, and economic development—maximizing development results and impact, while minimizing transaction costs.

$10 million to Regional AIDS Training Network – 2007-2015

Canada is once again providing funding to the Regional AIDS Training Network (RATN) which was designed to build local capacity to combat sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS by creating a network of training institutions in Eastern and Southern Africa. RATN works with its 24 member institutions in nine countries to adapt and develop short-term training programs for STI and HIV/AIDS workers, trainers, program managers, and senior policy makers. The Network will consolidate systems and structures in Eastern and Southern Africa to improve and scale-up HIV/AIDS training, networking and advocacy in an efficient manner. Given their involvement in the first phase of the project, the University of Manitoba will continue to be involved by providing distance education.

$3 million to the Department of Science and Technology and the South African Center of Excellence in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis – 2008-2013

This project will contribute to the reduction of the incidence of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in South Africa by developing innovative methods to better understand these diseases. Through scientific data collection and policy development, this project will increase understanding of the co-evolving tuberculosis and HIV epidemics, and help predict the future incidence rate of HIV/AIDS and estimate numbers of patients needing anti-retroviral therapy.