Under the theme Optimising the response: Partnerships for Sustainability, the 2009 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting in Namibia, drew more than 1,500 HIV/AIDS implementers from more than 55 countries around the world to Windhoek. Given the opportunity to speak at the opening ceremony, GNP+ called for increased support for community and civil society-based programmes and services.

Representing GNP+, CEO Dr. Kevin Moody, during his address focused on what makes the involvement of civil society so relevant for the 1,500 HIV implementers at the meeting. Together with UN and international NGO partners, GNP+ over the past few years developed a series of tools measuring stigma and discrimination, human rights violations, the application of the GIPA principle as well as the ability of people living with HIV to assess their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

These tools are now rolled out in countries by national networks of people living with HIV. The evidence gathered through these tools will provide essential information for partner implementers and governments to adjust programmes to address barriers and challenges to reaching universal access. The evidence will enable HIV implementers to achieve their objectives in their programmes.

The Implementers’ Meeting is an annual conference that focuses on implementation of best practices and lessons learnt for HIV implementers worldwide. The Meeting is co-sponsored by the Global Fund, GNP+, PEPFAR, UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO and the World Bank.

 GNP+ Opening Address 2009 HIV/AIDS Implementers' Meeting  (0.09 Mb)