Purpose

As a regional development bank, ADB has a direct interest in the threat that HIV/AIDS epidemic poses to the region’s progress in reducing poverty and its social and economic development. ADB has become a development partner on HIV/AIDS and infrastructure mitigation and in supporting regional public goods that enhance the understanding for the epidemics in the region.

Over the years, ADB has utilized its comparative advantage as a major investor in the region, with strong relationships with finance, planning and infrastructure sectors to influence HIV/AIDS strategic policy agenda in the region and at country level. There has been strong emphasis on strategic partnerships and sustainability.

ADB Vice-President Ursula Schaefer-Preuss will lead a delegation to ICAAP10 and will speak at the opening ceremony.

Satellite meetings

ADB is organizing three satellite meetings at ICAAP 10 that will highlight cost effective and sustainable approaches in HIV prevention and risk mitigation, and will discuss the updated strategic priorities in the region. Partners from the government, the private sector, NGOs and other development partners will help ensure productive discussion.

Satellite Meeting 1: Scaling-up new innovative partnerships for HIV/AIDS prevention: Papua New Guinea and Mongolia experiences, 27 August, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

ADB has an important role in supporting country-level HIV/AIDS prevention, prescribing to the principles of country/government leadership, engaging private sector and other stakeholders, and delivering long-term results. This has been successfully demonstrated in Mongolia and in Papua New Guinea. The epidemiological profile of Papua New Guinea with a heavy burden of communicable diseases indicates that very significant gains in health outcomes could be achieved with simple and effective interventions provided under public private partnerships. Although Mongolia is a low prevalence country for HIV/AIDS, its rapidly expanding mining sector and transportation network create a potential high-risk environment providing the opportunity to institutionalize prevention activities in these sectors.

The satellite meeting will discuss institutional arrangements for public-private partnerships for sustainable response to HIV/AIDS at national level; highlight key competencies and skills for effective partnerships; and showcase evidence-based practices in addressing HIV/AIDS in the region.

Speakers:
Sakiko Tanaka, ADB
Tuul Badarch, ADB
Ross Hutten, Oil Search Limited, Papua New Guinea
Elizabeth Gumbaketi, National Department of Health, Papua New Guinea
Nyamdorj Alimaa, Project Implementing Unit, Ministry of Health, Mongolia

Satellite Meeting 2: Infrastructure, Connectivity and HIV, 28 August, 12:00-1:30 p.m.

Infrastructure development, particularly road construction, will spur economic activities and promote connectivity as well as regional integration. With these positive impacts also comes an increased risk in the transmission of HIV and other communicable diseases, especially among mobile and migrant populations and affected communities along transport corridors and cross-border areas. In response, ADB and other development partners are implementing various initiatives to mitigate HIV risk associated with infrastructure projects.

The satellite meeting will explain impact of connectivity and infrastructure development on HIV risks and vulnerability; share lessons learned and impact stories from various initiatives on HIV prevention and mitigation in the infrastructure sector; showcase good practices in implementing pre-, during and post-construction risk mitigation initiatives; and inform various stakeholders about regional initiatives and enabling instruments to foster cross-border cooperation to reduce vulnerability associated with population movements.

Speakers:
Emiko Masaki, ADB
Chansy Phimphachanh, Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Navuth Tet, Family International Health (Cambodia)
Kyi Minn, World Vision International (Asia Pacific Region)

Satellite Meeting 3: ADB’s Strategic Directions on HIV Prevention and Mitigation in Asia and the Pacific, 29 August, 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Since the approval of its first strategic directions paper on HIV/AIDS, ADB has earned considerable experience in high-impact and well-focused prevention programs. ADB has become a development partner on HIV/AIDS and infrastructure. With its wealth of learned experiences and given the opportunities, ADB has updated its strategic approach bringing more focus on prevention and mitigation. There are 3 areas of interventions where ADB can effectively add value (i) mitigating HIV/AIDS risks and vulnerabilities in infrastructure projects, (ii) promoting regional cooperation to control and reverse the spread of HIV, specifically those most at risk, and (iii) supporting HIV/AIDS related impact studies on economics, gender, and poverty in support of evidence-based policy dialogue.

The satellite meeting will inform ADB’s renewed commitment to HIV/AIDS prevention and discuss strategic priorities, operation and implementation arrangements.

Speakers:
Rikard Elfving, ADB
Steve Kraus, UNAIDS-Regional Support Team (Asia Pacific)

About ICAAP

ICAAP is a biennial gathering for the release and discussion of scientific, programmatic, and policy developments in the global response to the issues of HIV/AIDS. The Co-convenor of ICAAPs is the AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific (ASAP) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). ICAAP promotes opportunities for greater regional collaboration, sharing of ideas amongst people infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemics from across the Asia and the Pacific region and provides regional and national organisations, governments and individual stakeholders with space to enhance their mutual contributions in the response to HIV/AIDS.

The theme of ICAAP10 is “Diverse Voices, United Action.”