Funders Roundtable

Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, and 10 years since the landmark UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS, the world came together again to review progress and chart the future course of the global AIDS response at the 2011 UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS from 8-10 June 2011 in New York.  See attached brochure for more information. 

As part of this series of high level meetings, FCAA and EFG hosted a funders' roundtable on June 7th from 4-6 pm.  

A panel of private funders reflected on the UN Secretary General’s recent report on the status of the global AIIDS pandemic and UN recommendations on “mobilizing for impact” in a renewed fight against AIDS, including UN calls to:

  • Harness the energy of young people for an HIV prevention revolution;
  • Revitalize the push towards achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2015;
  • Work with countries to make HIV programmes more cost effective, efficient and sustainable;
  • Promote the health, human rights and dignity of women and girls; and
  • Ensure mutual accountability in the AIDS response to translate commitments into action.
  

Interim Briefing Report

Following Through: Ensuring an End to AIDS

“We are a small but creative part of the funding [for HIV/AIDS]. We need to be strategic, rock the boat... and to have faith in our youth.”

Maya Harris, Ford Foundation

More than 50 funding colleagues joined FCAA and the European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG) for a special roundtable discussion on June 7th held in conjunction with the 2011 UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS in New York. The roundtable, Following Through: Ensuring an End to AIDS, focused on the UN Secretary-General’s recent report on the status of the global AIDS pandemic and UN recommendations on “mobilizing for impact” in a renewed fight against AIDS

A panel of private funders moderated by Maya Harris (Ford Foundation) and featuring Michael N. Joyner (ViiV Healthcare), Shannon Kowalski (Open Society Foundation), Remmy Shawa (HIV Young Leaders Fund), and Peter McDermott (Children’s Investment Fund Foundation), focused on the unique role private grantmakers can play in providing catalytic resources for a comprehensive AIDS response, including: advocating for key vulnerable populations around the world; holding governments accountable for reaching the Universal Access goals;  scaling up exciting new advancements in treatment as prevention; and in the promotion of health and human rights.  In a special conversation on the youth response – one of the recommendations from the Secretary-General – funders were urged not to tailor programs by age alone, but to think of youth comprehensively when addressing key affected populations (i.e. within MSM, transgender, sex worker or drug user populations).  Featured guest, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess Mette-Marit, of Norway, also highlighted the critical importance of supporting youth initiatives.

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