IFAD strategy paper on HIV/AIDS for East and Southern Africa

Annex I - Memorandum of Understanding for a Cooperation Framework Between IFAD and UNAIDS

Whereas the objective and functions of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are to mobilize additional resources to be made available on concessional terms for agricultural development in developing Member States. In fulfilling this objective, the Fund provides financing primarily for projects and programmes specifically designed to introduce, expand or improve food production systems and to strengthen related policies and institutions within the framework of national priorities and strategies, taking into consideration: the need to increase food production in the poorest food-deficit countries; the potential for increasing food production in other developing countries; the importance of improving the nutritional level of the poorest populations in developing countries and the conditions of their lives;

Whereas the Secretariat of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) supports, promotes and documents the role of UNAIDS as the leading advocate for an urgent, coordinated and comprehensive response to the epidemic; seeks to fulfil its role by providing high-level leadership and coordination, urging rapid political and social mobilization, related to the epidemic and providing high-quality information in pursuit of these objectives; and as the response to the epidemic expands, it seeks to support a growing range of partners with a strong emphasis on country-led processes; and

Whereas IFAD and the UNAIDS Secretariat recognize that it is in their mutual interests to establish cooperation between themselves, including appropriate working procedures to that effect;

Now, therefore, IFAD and the UNAIDS Secretariat have agreed as follows:

1. The purpose of the Cooperation Framework is to establish cooperation between IFAD and the UNAIDS Secretariat. This Cooperation Framework recognizes the expertise of each institution and seeks to establish operational and practical modalities of cooperation in order to alleviate the impact of HIV/AIDS on rural poverty and livelihood insecurity and to reduce vulnerability to HIV/AIDS through sustainable rural development.

2. IFAD and the UNAIDS Secretariat recognize the need to take advantage of their respective comparative advantages in order to develop cooperation under the terms of this Cooperation Framework. In this regard, the two institutions are committed to mobilizing and carrying out a broad-based response to the problem of HIV/AIDS in relation to rural development and in the context of the Global Strategy Framework and the United Nations (UN) strategic plan for HIV/AIDS.

3. In the interest of promoting smooth and productive collaboration between the UNAIDS Secretariat and IFAD, the following principles will govern their relationship in order to define specific mechanisms that will facilitate collaboration and cooperation. Since the UNAIDS Secretariat and IFAD constitute centres of excellence for the UN system in their respective fields of endeavour, specialists of the two organizations will collaborate directly, both at their respective headquarters and at country level.

4. At the country level, the UNAIDS Secretariat works through UN theme groups on HIV/AIDS, country programme advisers, and inter-country teams. In its effort to lead the expanded response to the HIV epidemic, the UNAIDS Secretariat works in partnership with governments, NGOs and the business sector as well as its seven co-sponsors (United Nations Children’s Fund - UNICEF; United Nations Development Programme - UNDP; United Nations International Drug Control Programme – UNDCP; United Nations Population Fund – UNFPA; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO; the World Health Organization – WHO; and the World Bank) and other regional and international bodies. In its efforts to fight poverty and increase agricultural production, IFAD works in partnership with governments, regional organizations, international organizations, NGOs and, where appropriate, with the private sector. All these partners constitute vital links for the facilitation and development of an effective cooperation network.

5. The UNAIDS Secretariat and IFAD will formally inform their respective staff and collaborating partners of this Cooperation Framework and will provide appropriate additional guidance for cooperation at the country level. Both IFAD and the UNAIDS Secretariat are fully committed to collaborating and working with the UN country teams, which offer opportunities to conduct in a systematic manner exchange of expertise and to develop joint initiatives and strategic planning where possible.

6. IFAD and the UNAIDS Secretariat will seek to collaborate on the following:

• The formulation of development-oriented activities aimed at addressing the HIV epidemic through IFAD-supported field projects and programmes in order to mitigate the effects of the epidemic on IFAD beneficiaries and stakeholders, and to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection and to the impact of AIDS ;
• The identification and promotion of best practices for mitigation strategies and activities which may then be integrated in IFAD’s ongoing and future development projects and programmes in order to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on the rural poor and promote sustainable rural livelihoods;
• The systematic exchange and documentation of information and experiences of IFAD-supported HIV/AIDS initiatives and activities under the development projects it finances, and HIV/AIDS projects in the agricultural sector supported by the UNAIDS Secretariat; and
• The provision of technical assistance by the UNAIDS Secretariat, as and when requested, in the area of impact alleviation and reduction of vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.

7. The UNAIDS Secretariat and IFAD will regularly attend the meetings of each other’s governing bodies, inter-agency coordination meetings and working-level technical meetings in areas of mutual concern.

8. On an annual basis, the UNAIDS Secretariat and IFAD will jointly review the implementation of this Cooperation Framework. In order to permit such review and to encourage a regular consultation process, a one-day meeting will be convened once a year, alternating between the headquarters of IFAD and the Secretariat of UNAIDS.

This Cooperation Framework will take effect on the date of signature indicated below. It may be modified at the request of either of the parties by mutual agreement.

The parties hereto, acting through their duly authorized representatives, have signed this Memorandum of Understanding, as of 27 September 2001.

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS		International Fund for Agricultural Development
Dr Peter Piot		Lennart Båge
Executive Director		President