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The HIV & AIDS Mainstreaming Strategy • PROJECT NAME: THE WATER

SECTOR HIV AND AIDS MAINSTREAMING PROGRAMME

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Contents

• Introduction • Background• Scope of Work• Key Points to Consider• Progress from the last WSLG • Recommendations• Way Forward

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Introduction

• HIV and AIDS pandemic has led to much disruption in South African communities and has forced millions of people to adapt to new lifestyles. Millions of children are orphaned while the labour force is affected as skilled workers become unable to work

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Background

• (WSSLG), now know as the Water Sector Leadership Group (WSLG) reacted in 2004 to a need for a co-ordinated response to the HIV & AIDS pandemic through the formation of the HIV&AIDS Core Group

• The decision to mainstream HIV & AIDS in the water sector came in 2005.

• Directorate WS: Policy and Strategy was tasked with facilitating the development and approval of a DRAFT STRATEGY for mainstreaming HIV & AIDS in the Water Sector

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Scope of WorkOutput Status

Consider internal and external mainstreaming Done

Outline linkages between water, sanitation and HIV & AIDS Done

Identify issues to be addressed in internal and external mainstreaming Done

Review sector initiatives on HIV & AIDS Done

Consider implications of sector initiatives for water sector mainstreaming

Done

Outline policy recommendations for mainstreaming and implications thereof

Done

Develop HIV & AIDS mainstreaming policy statement Draft developed

Develop HIV & AIDS mainstreaming strategic framework Draft developed

Liaise with other mainstreaming processes Done

Consult with key sector partners on outputs Done

Finalise documents & present to WSLG Done

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Key Focus Areas

1. Access to Safe, Reliable and Sufficient Water

2. Identifying and Targeting of HIV & AIDS Priority Areas

3. Water Provision Systems: Location, Design, Construction and Use

4. Policies, Plans and Guidelines

5. Training, Education and Awareness Raising

6. Water Decision Making and Tackling of Stigma

7. Water Resources Planning

8. Internal Mainstreaming

9. Cross Cutting Issues

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Progress to date

• The HIV and AIDS Strategy was presented by Helgard Muller to the WSLG in June 2009

• The Strategy has been circulated to the WSLG for comments between August and September 09

• The closing date for comments was September 2009

• Comments have been discussed by core group and considered.

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Comments• The comments received were predominantly from Working for Water for

whom the paper sparked an internal discussion on how the programmes current HIV and AIDS policy can be aligned to the strategic framework document.

• It was requested that the review period be included hence a five year review period was recommended for the period 2010-2014.

• A front page of the document was developed in response to the comment on the document having its own identity.

• Finally, the action plan was updated to reflect the new government departments and their functions.

• No major comments were received regarding the content of the framework hence it is assumed that all WSLG members are in agreement with the document and the proposed action plan to take the document forward.

• All comments received were included it the November 2009 draft of the document. A comments register reflecting the comments received and how they were included was developed and is available for review.

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Recommendations

• The WSLG approves the HIV and AIDS Strategy

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Way Forward

• A 5-year business plan was developed that detailed the following activities:

• Support and capacity building to Regional offices in the development of regional HIV & AIDS implementation plans (Active Regions: NW, GP, FS and LP)

• Two pilot projects where the integration of HIV & AIDS aspects were addressed: Evarton Community based project (GP) and Isulabasha project (KZN)

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Way Forward (Cont)

• Further projects initiated: De Hoop Dam (LP) and Willow Park community (NW)

• Roll-out of Best Practice model for internal mainstreaming of HIV & AIDS in water utilities

• Identification of activities with WIN-SA for information dissemination, learning events and conferences

• Awareness campaigns with sector partners to commemorate World AIDS Day

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Thanks!