[indices] Invitation: UNITAID Contact Group

[BDockalova@oxfam.org.uk]

5 June, 2007


  Dear Colleagues,

  The  NGO and Communities delegates to the Board of UNITAID, would like to
  invite  you  to  join a contact group of civil society UNITAID advocates,
  advisers and stakeholders that the civil society Board members of UNITAID
  wish to launch.


  What is the UNITAID?

  UNITAID  is  a  new  international initiative aimed at reducing prices of
  drugs  and  diagnostics  to  treat  HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. Its primary
  financial resources come from innovating financing mechanisms such as the
  airline  ticket solidarity contribution.  UNITAID was officially launched
  on September 19 2006.


  Who governs UNITAID?

  An  Executive  Board  consisting  of:  the  5 founding countries (France,
  Brazil,  Chile,  Norway, United Kingdom); the African Union, 2 new member
  countries  (Spain,  South  Korea);  Foundations (represented by the gates
  Foundation);  Communities living with the diseases and NGOs.  The goal of
  the  Executive  Board  is to set UNITAID objectives, working plan, assess
  partnerships and progress.


  The Civil Society Board Members

  At  the World AIDS Conference on August 13 2006, the founding governments
  of UNITAID announced to civil society that it had 6 weeks to come up with
  representatives  for  4  Board  position:  Board member and Alternate for
  Communities  living  with  the  diseases;  Board member and Alternate for
  NGOs.  Due  to  the  very  short  deadline, the suggestion was that civil
  societyâ  use the same selection process for the UNITAID Board as for the
  Global  Fund  Board.  The  process was thus entrusted to ICASO to issue a
  Call  for  Applications  and then convene a selection panel. The call was
  posted  on  all the e-mail list serves of HIV, TB, and malaria. An expert
  team  from  the NGO and communities examined the CV's of applicants.  The
  resulting Civil Society Board Members are:

  Board  member for People living with the diseases: Joe Muriuki (CHIACSOK,
  Kenya)
  Alternate  Board  member  for  People  living  with  the  diseases: Carol
  Nyirenda (TALC, Zambia)
  Board member for NGOs: Khalil Elouardighi (Act Up-Paris, from France)
  Alternate Board member for NGOs: Dr. Mohga Kamal Yanni (Oxfam, UK)



  Areas of work for NGO Contact Group

  The Civil Society Delegates to the UNITAID Board would like to invite you
  to  join  the  Civil  Society  Contact Group. The Contact Group has three
  purposes:
  Â   Participate in occasional advocacy actions aimed at ensuring that
  UNITAID delivers on its promise to bring real added value to the global
  health architecture, by increasing the affordability of essential drugs
  and diagnostics against the 3 diseases (such advocacy would tend to
  concentrate on the countries who are members of the UNITAID Board) ;
  Â   Ensure input into UNITAID of civil societyâs expertise on UNITAIDâs
  work areas;
  Â   Keep all interested civil society stakeholders informed about UNITAID

  The  current  areas  in  which the civil societyâ Board members feel most
  strongly the need for external civil society advice are:

  1.  Determinants of meaningful involvement of local civil society in
  UNITAID-supported programs, including monitoring and evaluation
  2.  UNITAID role in the Global health architecture, especially: (a) how
  to ensure that other determinants of a successful treatment programme are
  also available (e.g. human resources, health systems)- beyond drugs; (b)
  how to minimize transaction costs, (c) how to increase accountability;
  3.  Pharmaceutical supply chain, from the manufacturer to the patient;
  4.  Price reduction methods;


  What does joining the UNITAID Contact Group entail?

  Â   Invest time and effort to respond to requests for review of UNITAID
  documents and other related information;
  Â   Invest time and effort to advocate for civil society perspective on
  UNITAID with key UNITAID decision-makers (UNITAID donor governments,
  UNITAID implementing agencies).
  Â   Provide recommendations and share intelligence information via email
  that will be raised at UNITAID Board Meetings
  Â   Input into the contact group process will be via e-mail and
  occasional teleconferences.


  How to join the Contact Group?

  Barbara Dockalova from Oxfam-GB is working as Liaison Officer for the NGO
  and  Communities  UNITAID  Board  Members.  She will coordinate the civil
  society  Contact  Group.  If you are interested in being a member, please
  send me an email with:

  Contact information (email, telephone)
  Brief description of your expertise
  Your areas of interest regarding UNITAID

  Please send me your response by FRIDAY 15 June.

  (Please note that membership of the contact group does not have financial
  rewards)

  It is my pleasure to have the opportunity to share UNITAID work with you.
  I  look  forward  working  with  you on this new and exciting initiative.
  Please respond to my email if you are interested in joining and/or if you
  can recommend people who I could approach regarding this matter.


  Sincerely,
  Barbara Dockalova


  UNITAID Liaison Officer
  Oxfam GB
  Oxfam House, John Smith Drive, Oxford OX4 2JY
  bdockalova@oxfam.org.uk

Oxfam works with others to overcome poverty and suffering.

Oxfam GB is a member of Oxfam International, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England No. 612172.
Registered office: Oxfam House, John Smith Drive, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 2JY
Registered charity No. 202918.