How Activists Can Engage With PEPFAR In-Country
The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest source of funding for the HIV response globally, with most funding focused in sub-Saharan Africa, Haiti, and in smaller regional programs in Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
PEPFAR is often the largest single source of money for HIV—often larger than the Global Fund and more than the government in some countries. In other countries, PEPFAR provides smaller portions of total funding, but often for services that no other funding supports — including Key Populations funding.
To better support advocates and other stakeholders – especially from key and marginalised populations to engage with PEPFAR country operational plans (COP), Health GAP’s published, in 2021, an activist’s tool for watchdogging the world’s largest source of funding for the global HIV response where it matters most.
For years, activists were not included in PEPFAR process but that is changing, thanks to years of hard work and commitment from advocates around the world.
Communities need to be at the center of decision making and involved in the program implementation and this guide will help in that.