UNAIDS: The First 10 Years

Malawigovernment structures and systems that embodied the principles promoted by the “ThreeOnes” before the term “Three Ones” was officially coined. In fact, Malawi’s experiencehelped to inform the conception and development of the “Three Ones”; it was one ofthe two African countries that attended the 2004 Washington, DC, meeting where the“Three Ones” agreement was first signed.235In addition to its impact on the coordination effort, one of the main purposes of the“Three Ones” is to ensure country-wide ownership of the response to the disease,not only by securing the commitment of the top leaders, but also by mobilizing andcoordinating grassroots activity. All “Three Ones” are designed to ensure that thegovernment remains connected and committed to its people and their daily realitiesthrough constant, systematic dialogue and ‘feedback’ loops between central structures anddecentralized authorities.Created in July 2001 with the mandate to guide and oversee the development of thenational response to AIDS and to enable its coordination, monitoring and implementation,Malawi’s National AIDS Commission is considered one of the most effective inthe region. Linking directly to both the political leadership and people of Malawi, it isgenerally acknowledged that the National AIDS Commission in Malawi has successfullystruck the difficult balance between having a clear line of authority and securingmeaningful democratic involvement in the response to AIDS. Malawi’s National AIDSCommission took on different shapes and forms before it became what it is today. Someof the National AIDS Commission’s transformations were required by donors, and theUN supported the Malawi Government in meeting these.The National AIDS Commission mobilizes democratic involvement in the responseto AIDS in at least three ways. First, it holds broad-based consultations to inform thedevelopment of the National Strategic Framework. Indeed, the Malawi National AIDSCommission has institutionalized the tradition of government-led Joint ParticipatoryReviews of the national response 16 .Second, bodies within the National AIDS Commission are representative of thepopulation, and their decision-making processes are genuinely consultative. The NationalAIDS Commission’s 11 board members are selected from a broad range of stakeholders,including people living with HIV, faith-based organizations, the private sector,organizations representing workers unions, women’s groups, youth, traditional healersand leaders, and key government ministries including health, local government andfinance. Representatives of each group are responsible for coordinating the response toAIDS in that sector. The National Youth Council coordinates youth activities; the MalawiInter-Faith Association brings all faith communities together, and the Malawi BusinessCoalition against HIV/AIDS coordinates activities of the private sector.16Office of the Pr)esident and Cabinet (2005). Malawi HIV and AIDS Monitoring and Evaluation Report 2005.Follow-up to the Declaration of Commitment Department of Nutrition HIV and AIDS (UNGASS). Lilongwe,Government of Malawi, December.