News from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance 27 November 2006 - for immediate release

Organisations in the International HIV/AIDS Alliance have been awarded up to $83 million in the sixth round of grants from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Proposals have been successful in Alliance countries including India, Morocco, Senegal and Ukraine, with Global Fund grants for these countries totalling $480 million.

The Alliance's share of these grants includes $64.6 million over five years in Ukraine; $14.4 million over five years in India; $1.8 million over two years in Senegal; and $1.3 million over four years in Morocco. (In some countries the grants are still contingent on final requirements being fulfilled in the coming weeks.)

Alliance Executive Director Alvaro Bermejo said: "These grants are a great boost for Alliance organisations in these five countries, and particularly important for those that are disproportionately infected with and affected by HIV - and hence key to stemming the epidemic's spread.

"Globally only 5% of injecting drug users, 11% of men who have sex with men and 16% of sex workers have access to basic HIV services. Work with these groups is traditionally under-funded and, where funded, bound by constraints that can limit its effectiveness.

"That's why the Global Fund grants are such good news. They allow those that are best placed, such as civil society organisations, to reach these vulnerable groups. If work to reduce the vulnerability of these groups and the human rights violations that they face is not sufficiently funded, the goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care by 2010 for all who need it will not be achieved."

Alliance grants and roles by country:

India Organisation: Alliance India Role: Co-principal recipient Country amount: $259,180,000 Organisation amount: $14,370,000, 5 yrs Organisation's focus in country project: Mitigate the impact of HIV on Children & Women.

Morocco Organisation: AMSED Role: Sub recipient Country amount: $26,453,910 Organisation amount: $1,300,000, 4 yrs Organisation's focus in country project: Reduce the vulnerability of most at risk populations and improve their sexual health knowledge.

Senegal Organisation: Alliance Nationale Conte le SIDA (ANCS) Role: Co-principal recipient Country amount: $28,893,265 Organisation amount: $1,800,000, 2 yrs Organisation's focus in country project: Reduction in the transmission of HIV in specific most at risk populations and improve the survival rate and care of people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

Ukraine Organisation: Alliance Ukraine Role: Co-principal recipient Country amount: $151,000,000 Organisation amount: $64,647,323, 5 yrs Organisation's focus in country project: Support for prevention, treatment and care for the most vulnerable populations.

Ends

Editor's notes

1. Established in 1993, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance (the Alliance) is a global partnership of nationally-based organisations working to support community action on AIDS in developing countries. These national partners help local community groups and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to take action on AIDS, and are supported by technical expertise, policy work and fundraising carried out at the UK-based international secretariat and across the Alliance.

2. The Alliance has worked with community organisations from over 40 countries, provided financial support to over 3,000 projects (implemented by over 2,000 community and faith-based groups). Expenditure in 2005 alone was over US $45 million (£25 million).

3. More information about the work of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance is available from www.aidsalliance.org. Alternatively, and to arrange interviews, please contact Simon Moore. T: 01273 718744. E: smoore@aidsalliance.org or Rhian Evans. T: 01273 718961. E: revans@aidsalliance.org

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