Tanzanian Campaign Platform

Summary

Tanzania is one of the round 3 countries and the World AIDS Campaign became involved in the country in 2011. Initial meetings took place in June 2011 and the Tanzania AIDS Forum (TAF) was identified as the main partner. The TAF is an umbrella organisation which represents 57 civil society organisations and coordinates the activities of its members.

Programme Partners

• National Council of People living with HIV and AIDS (NACOPHA)
• National Network of Tanzanian Women with HIV/AIDS (NETWO+)
• Partnership of women against HIV/AIDs in Tanzania (PWAAT)
• Tanzania Aids Forum (TAF)
• Tanzania Network of People with HIV/AIDS (TANEPHA)
• Tanzania Commission For AIDS (TACAIDS)
• Tanzania Network of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (TNW+)
• Tanga AIDS Working Group (TAWG)
• Tanzania Council of Social Development (TACOSODE)

Mission and Vision

• An inclusive and diverse PLHIV movement-centered, civil society-led structure that is sustainable;
• A structure which thinks and acts strategically to achieve Universal Access through campaigning, advocacy and lobbying; and
• A structure, which is realistic about the need to act with others regionally and globally in addressing the barriers to achieving Universal Access.

Current Campaigns

The campaigners meeting was held on 27-29th September 2011 and brought together about 30 civil society organisations from across the country. The aim of the meeting was to develop a greater understanding of the HIV epidemic in Tanzania and develop a coordinated civil society platform. The LTA programme was introduced and the opportunities for evidence informed advocacy, campaigning and lobbying presented.

The members also discussed numerous challenges they have and will face with regards to advocacy in Tanzania, such as limited access to information, unfamiliarity with the budget making process and with universal access targets, UNGASS and the Political Declaration on HIV&AIDS, in addition to the limited democratic space required for successful advocacy.  A joint advocacy plan was developed for the year 2012.

The one year advocacy plan covers all four thematic areas of Tanzania’s National Multi-sectoral Strategic Framework (NMSF), the framework that guides Tanzania’s national response to the HIV epidemic. These four thematic areas are Prevention, Care & Treatment, Impact Mitigation and Enabling Environment.

The four main issues identified in the advocacy plan are:

1. Increased HIV funding from the Government of Tanzania
The Tanzania AIDS response has an estimated finance gap of 45% over the period 2012-2016 with prevention funding having the largest gap and the government contributing 5% which creates concerns with sustainability. If this is not addressed the country will have increased infections and the burden of care will become much greater in the future.

2. Enforcement of HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act
The HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act was developed in 2007 through very limited consultation with civil society and lacked multi-sectorality.  CSOs were concerned on the non-commitment of government on the availability of resources and limited governance and accountability. TAF will work towards ensuring that the regulation for the enforcement of the act is developed, disseminated and well known by communities.

3. Non discriminatory guideline on HIV care and support to all PLHIV
There is concern that the government only provides instructions on how government civil servants should be cared for, and as such discriminates against non-government employees. However, the government commits itself in the 2001 policy that it shall not discriminate and that all PLHIV will have the right to comprehensive care services. CSOs will thus advocate for the regulation that does not discriminate against, but provides equal rights to all PLHIV.

4. Policy guidelines to finance home based care activities done mainly by CSOs
Home-based care is one of the cost-effective approaches to mitigate the physical, mental, spiritual and socioeconomic difficulties experienced by PLHIV and their families. The Government has facility based home based care interventions in 70 districts, leaving about 56 districts uncovered. However, the provision of home based care fall predominantly on CSOs. The government is committed to support all districts by 2017,and CSOs will advocate for government to approve policy provision to provide financial support to CSOs responsible for home-based care.