AEGiS-15IAC: Examining HIV/AIDS budgets and expenditure in Africa and Latin America

AEGiS-15IAC: Examining HIV/AIDS budgets and expenditure in Africa and Latin America - a comparative study.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Examining HIV/AIDS budgets and expenditure in Africa and Latin America - a comparative study.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. MoOrE1038)

Guthrie TA, Lara G, Darce C, Fairstein C, Kioko U, Kerapeletswa C, Phororo H, Sotomayor J, Sumbana H, Valdes A
AIDS Budget Unit, Idasa, Cape Town, South Africa

ISSUES: Monitoring and analysis of public expenditure on HIV/AIDS is vital given the severity of the epidemic, the substantial inflow of donor funds, and the critical need for investment from the national fiscus. A country's budget remains the most clear, honest and telling indicator of a country's prioritisation of the epidemic. Civil society can serve as a watchdog and advocate for adequate attention to HIV/AIDS in the national budget. However, at present, there is insufficient information and critical analysis produced in-country by independent non-governmental organizations on resource allocation for HIV/AIDS in national budgets.

DESCRIPTION: This paper examines how governments (in 5 Latin American and 5 African countries) are funding the fight against HIV/AIDS, and builds capacity for HIV/AIDS budget analysis in civil society. Budget analysis is conducted by non-governmental research organisations in each participating country, utilizing a common Terms of Reference to facilitate comparison between countries and regions. The study focuses on budget inputs i.e. HIV/AIDS allocations from nationally-sourced revenue and donor funds (including the GFATM).

LESSONS LEARNED: Our results include comparative information from ten countries on: 1. The share of national budgets dedicated to the health sector; 2. Amount of public and donor funds allocated for HIV/AIDS, and programmatic breakdown of the HIV/AIDS budget; 3. Government bodies and systems for budgeting and spending HIV/AIDS funds-both nationally-sourced and donor monies, and; 4. Efficiency and equity of HIV/AIDS spending: per capita expenditure analysis and prioritization of different geographic regions and target populations.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The study provides comparative information on HIV/AIDS budgeting and spending and gives recommendations concerning programme structures and budgeting systems at individual country level and regionally.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Latin America, Budgets, Health Expenditures, HIV Infections, Organizations, Africa, Financial Management, Disease Outbreaks, Research, economics

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