Chapter 2
Partnerships: vital for success
The 3 by 5 initiative will only succeed if it is supported by the many partners engaged in expanding treatment availability throughout the developing world. The initiative is above all a call for partnership - one whose strength lies in the different skills and comparative advantages of numerous organizations and communities (see Box 5.2).
The alliances and partnerships necessary for success involve national and local governments, civil society, bilateral donors, multilateral organizations, foundations, the private sector (including employers and pharmaceutical companies), trade unions, traditional authorities, faith-based organizations, nongovernmental organizations (international and national) and community-based organizations. People living with HIV/AIDS and the activist community are indispensable partners at all levels of WHO's activities. The full potential of the initiative will only be realized if it is linked to the work of the UNAIDS secretariat and other UNAIDS cosponsors.
Partnership and collaboration assume even greater importance as major programmes enter the implementation phase, including efforts financed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the World Bank's Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program (see Boxes 2.3 and 2.4). At least US$ 4.5 billion has been committed by the Global Fund and the World Bank to the fight against HIV/AIDS. This figure is expected to rise substantially as the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief takes off. However, the current lack of technical capacity in a large number of recipient countries is a major obstacle to the effective use of these resources. One of the greatest collective tasks will be to work with countries and recipients to ensure that the money achieves its intended results. Success depends on close collaboration between funders and technical agencies.
