The Gambia

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS affects people in their most productive years, and is uniquely devastating as it increases poverty and reverses human development achievements. The United Nations Development Programme is committed to preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and reducing its impact. It is one of eight co-sponsors of UNAIDS, an innovative joint venture to ensure co-coordinated and intensive international responses to one of the world’s most serious development crisis. UNDP advocates for the placing of HIV/AIDS at the center of national planning and budgets. It helps build national capacity to manage initiatives that include people and institutions not usually involved in public health, promotes decentralized responses for community level action, and supports national efforts by offering knowledge, resources and best practices from around the world.

UNDP has supported Government’s efforts to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS since the Mid 80’s. UNDP has been the main funder of the Government’s HIV/AIDS prevention activities ranging from training of health workers, sensitization campaigns, provision of HIV test kits, and logistical support to the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare. Further UNDP’s support focused on blood safety, community education, capacity building, human development and advocacy.

Between 2003 -2006, UNDP funded a three year project –Strengthening the Response to HIV/ AIDS at the District Level. This project was implemented by the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare 2006 and it was subsequently extended to December 2007. A follow – up project was implemented in 2008 to consolidate and sustain the gains made in previous UNDP interventions in the HIV/AIDS sector.

Achievements:

HIV/AIDS Project

PMU established and housed at NAS.
National Validation of the Strategic Plan.
Support mapping study on High Risk Groups.
Supported development of GF Round Eight proposal- $30m.
Supported 10 PLHIV groups nation-wide.
Institutional strengthening of 3 national networks working with PLHIVs.

Women In Decision Making

Nation-wide sensitisation campaign for increased women’s participation in Decision Making Positions.
Increased representation of women in Local Government.
30% quota for women has been elaborated in the Women’s Bill.
Capacity Assessment of women in decision-making conduced and the report nationally validated with key recommendations to be implemented in the follow-up project.