The Alliance, through Action for Global Health*, is working hard to ensure strong civil society engagement in the International Health Partnership - an initiative launched by the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the UK's Department for International Development (among others) in September 2007 to better harmonise donor aid for health.

Action for Global Health argues that countries see bigger health gains when governments work in partnership with civil society, faith-based organisations, and the private sector. This approach makes use of broader expertise, and promotes greater accountability and transparency in health spending.

To date, civil society organisations in the International Health Partnership 'first wave' countries have not yet been fully involved in the development of country compacts. Action for Global Health is arguing that, by fully involving civil society, the International Health Partnership can ensure that health plans reflect the issues that affect communities, and also support the delivery of these services.

Activities so far have included:

requesting that the heads of the 'Health 8' agencies develop a clear framework for civil society engagement and representation at national, regional and international levels participating in a videoconference with the World Bank and the World Health Organization to discuss civil society engagement in the roll-out of the International Health Partnership Participating in the International Health Partnership's bi-monthly Scaling-up Reference Group meeting. Action for Global Health is also highlighting that funding should not shift away from AIDS programming as the initiative is rolled out, encouraging the International Health Partnership to focus on achieving all of the health Millennium Development Goals, hence increasing financing for health systems strengthening and disease-specific programmes.

Find out more in Action for Global Health's response to the International Health Partnership Civil Society Engagement Concept Paper (http://synkronweb.aidsalliance.org/graphics/secretariat/images/News/AGH%20response%20to%20IHP%20civil%20society%20engagement%20concept%20paper.pdf).

*Action for Global Health is a network of 15 European non-governmental organisations and charities conducting advocacy work to allow developing countries to make substantial progress towards the health Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

(http://www.aidsalliance.org/sw54307.asp)