1. A. Introduction to the plan:

This advocacy plan was developed as a result of consultation among members and it aims to re-position TAF to be a national advocacy platform. This one year advocacy plan will address seven objectives that are aligned to challenges that are being experienced by different implementers of HIV interventions. The seven objectives will not be the only focus on the forum, but will form priority advocacy agendas in the year 2012. TAF secretariat will continue playing its coordination role.

In a meeting between civil society organizations to develop this plan, participants were divided into groups according to the four thematic areas in the National Multi-sectoral Strategic Framework.  Both a chair and secretary were elected, and they will continue taking a lead on the advocacy issues that they identified. The secretariat will coordinate all the advocacy efforts to ensure that the groups are aligned to achieve the objectives. To do this, the secretariat will strengthen its human resource capacity by ensuring that there is full time and competent staff providing oversight to the advocacy.

B. About Tanzania AIDS Forum:

Tanzania AIDS Forum is the sole national network which brings together 57 registered CSOs working in HIV, health and policy advocacy. The efforts to form TAF started towards the end of 2005. With support from TACAIDS and UNAIDS, a series of meetings were held between February 28th and March 1st 2006 to lay the foundation upon which the Tanzania AIDS Forum was established. The forum was finally formed on May 2nd 2006.
The forum was formed to create an opportunity to learn from each other, create a space to collectively voice issues of concern related to HIV, create a forum for participation in HIV/AIDS policy process including financial framework. In this way the work of CSOs related to HIV/AIDS would be more coherent, shared, coordinated and networked hence achieving the maximum output of the value of resources thus reversing the trend of the pandemic.
Since its inception, TAF has had a number of achievements which have facilitated the realization of its objectives. These include:

• Registration of TAF as a company limited by guarantee
• Increased membership into TAF from 35 members who had signed MoUs in 2008 to 57 members in 2009
• Participated in review processes of the HIV/AIDS Bill
• Participated in review processes of the National Multi-sectoral Strategic Framework for HIV/AIDS 2008/12
• Engagement in HIV/AIDS budget analysis

C. The advocacy plan

C1: Process of development of the plan:

The advocacy plan was developed by members of the Tanzania AIDS Forum during a three day workshop held in Dar es Salaam from September 27th to 29th 2011. The meeting was supported by Worlds AIDS Campaign. The meeting started by knowledge building sessions on global, regional and country issues relating to HIV and AIDS prevention, care, support and treatment, impact mitigation and enabling environment. TAF is grateful to TACAIDS which facilitated the first sessions on knowledge building and setting the scene. The second and third day were focussed on advocacy knowledge building and actual development of the plan.

In order to develop a plan, participants were divided into four groups reflecting the thematic areas in the national HIV and AIDS response and they were asked to identify as many advocacy issues as possible and then prioritize them to have two top priorities that they wanted to pursue. From the two issues, one issue was selected, and then thinking on objectives, activities, targets and messages was done. From the work of the groups, the consultant compiled and aligned the activities to complete the plan. This plan is therefore the joint output of the participants listed in annex I.

C2: Advocacy issues and justifications for advocacy:

This advocacy plan addresses four issues namely:

C2.1. Increased HIV funding by Government of Tanzania

Tanzania’s HIV/AIDS NMSF response has an estimated financing gap of 45.3% that translate to Tshs 2.6 trillion (US$ 1.73 billion) over the 5-year period between 2012/13 -2016/17. The estimated financing needs are over Tshs. 5.73 trillion (US$ 3.82 billion); of which Tshs. 3.1 trillion (US$ 2 billion) is estimated to be available to meet the cost of the national response. The estimated gap will increase from USD 259.9 million in 2010/11 to USD 631.4 million in 2014/15. Prevention interventions have the largest gap, about 60.3% (USD 845,773 million). Out of the funding available in Tanzania, the Government contributed 5% which created worries on sustainability. If this is not addressed, then the country is likely to have continued infection and the burden to care will be unbearable in future.

C2.2. Enforcement of HIV and AIDS Prevention and control Act

HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act was developed in 2007 through very limited consultation. Even when CSOs submitted technical inputs, very limited inclusion was acknowledged.  In general, CSOs felt that the bill presented more of the health domain and as such lacked multi-sectorality. Even putting the bill under the ministry of health would be challenging since its design and implementation would still be health oriented.

CSOs also commented on the non-commitment of government on the availability of resources, as it did not take the responsibility to care for its citizens. This was drawn from the phrase “where resources allow” which is too political. Stakeholders recommend that the government accepts to make this a priority to have those who need services using the best service available instead of when resources allow. Of concern also were the limited governance and accountability, where the bill appeared to be developed to control CSOs. Specifically on the misuse of HIV funds, the bill is silent on government, but it proposed de-registration of NGOs.

Despite the above weaknesses, the Act has some reasonable provisions that CSO would like to be enforced alongside consideration for the amendment. Such provisions include those of establishment of research committee, ensuring that STI services are strengthened, ensuring quality and standards of commodities such as condoms, etc. TAF will therefore work towards ensuring that the regulation for the enforcement of the act is developed, disseminated and well known by communities.

C2.3. Non-discriminatory guideline on care and support to all PLHIV

In 2006, the government, through the President’s Office Public Service Management, issued a letter to all ministries, departments and Agencies on care and support to PLHIV. The letter is commonly known as “waraka #1 wa 2006”. It has been used by some MDAs to care for their staff and families living with HIV and AIDS. Albeit, the letter did not standardize on what has to be provided, but left this to the discretion of the accounting officer and his/her team to decide. The overarching issue here is that the government only provides instructions on how government civil servants should be cared for, and as such discriminates against non-government employees. On the other hand, 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.

C2.4. 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. It completes the bridge in the continuum of care from the health services to the community and vice versa. The Government has facility based home based care interventions  in 70 districts, leaving about 56 districts uncovered. In both those covered by Government and those not, the community home based care is shouldered by Civil Society Organizations mostly driven by volunteerism. Due to weak linkage between community and health facilities, the retention rate reported by CTC in 2010 to the Universal Access report was 56% in 24 months. Since CSO shoulders most of the work and government is committed to support all districts by 2017, CSOs will advocate for government to approve policy provision to provide financial support to CSO working on the area.

C3: Objectives and corresponding activities

C3.1. Enabling environment:

Objective #1: HIV and AIDS Standing Committee advocates for HIV and AIDS government budget contribution increase from 5% to 25% by December 2012:

Activities:

1. Collect information on HIV and AIDS budget and funding environmen
2. Establishing communication with HIV and AIDS Standing Committee
3. Meeting the 25 members of the HIV and AIDS Standing Committee to report the findings of the HIV& AIDS budget and funding
4. Building capacity and supporting the HIV and AIDS Standing Committee on advocating for the budget increase through Consultative Sessions.

Objective #2: Commissioner for Budget approves HIV and AIDS budget increase from 5% to 25% of national budget by December 2013.

Activities:

1. One-on-one meeting with Executive Chair for TACAIDS, Dr. FatmaMrisho
2. One-on-one meeting with Commissioner for Budget
3. Report the findings of the HIV& AIDS budget and funding and give recommendations on improving government contribution to the budget

C3.2. HIV prevention:

Objective #3: HIV regulation for HIV and Control and Prevention Act in place by December 2012

Activities:

1. Get hold of the draft guidelines for HAPACA from MoH,
2. Hold a meeting of 10 people to review the guidelines and input from stakeholders
3. Engage a consultant to simplify the guidelines
4. Meeting of 20 people to share consultant report and approval of the simplified guideline
5. Share the simplified guidelines electronically
6. Print 5000 copies of the simplified guidelines for public access
7. Conduct an awareness workshop for 20 people (key stake holders and our group)
8. Conduct advocacy meeting with Minister for health, Legal department of MoH and TACAIDS legal department

Objective #4: Increased understanding of HIV and AIDS Control and Prevention by communities by June 2012

Activities:

1. Engage the consultant to simplify the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act
2. Printing of the 5000 summary of the law for public use
3. Dissemination of the summary law to the public through post office, e-mails
4. Hold a two days meeting with 25 journalist on HIV and AIDS law
5. Conduct media TV/Radio session to disseminate the law and regulations
6. Conduct a workshop for 24 journalists
7. Quarterly one day meeting to monitor progress of the activities

C3.3. Care support and treatment:

Objective #5: Government approves policy guidelines for financial support to CSO’s working on HBC by Dec. 2012

Activities:

1. Commission a consultant to analyze the trend of HBC services and financing as well as justification of the advocacy
2. Hold meeting with TACAIDS to present the issues.
3. Hold a one day meeting with standing committee on HIV and AIDS on the same
4. Hold a meeting with leaders of standing committee for HIV, social services and local government

Objective #6: Government increase funds allocated for HBC by 25% from the baseline of 2010 by Dec. 2012.

1. Develop policy briefs from the consultant report above
2. Hold meeting with minister to present the facts and rationale for the funding allocation
3. Hold lunch meetings ( NACP manager, DPS, CMO, DFA TACAIDS, Public health specialist TACAIDS ) to discuss the funding to HBC

C3.4. Impact mitigation:

Objective #7: Non-discriminatory national guidelines for provision of care and support to all PLHIV is issued by December 2012

Activities:

1. Commission a consultant to analyze HIV policy, NMSF and HIV and AIDS law to prepare fact sheet on the need for new non-discriminatory guideline
2. Conduct meeting with 45 key stakeholders to share the analysis findings
3. Prepare and print 5000 policy briefs and advocacy materials
4. Hold meeting with Prime Minister
5. Hold a meeting with minister responsible with HIV in the country

C4: Grant chart for activities

Appendix I: List of organisations who developed the plan