The Role of Civil Society in the IHP+

Elaine Ireland, Action for Global HealthIHP+ Civil Society Consultation, Geneva, 23rd May 2008

`Why involve civil society?

• IHP+ should be:– Country-led– Accountable

• Civil society is important to ensure the IHP+:– Responds to all health needs– Reflects all population groups– Demonstrates clear progress towards the health

MDGs; universal access to sexual and reproductive health; and universal access to HIV treatment, prevention, care and support

`What civil society can contribute

• Wide range of experience and knowledge, including:– Insight into the real, practical, challenges and gaps in health service

delivery

– Hands-on experience and knowledge of what works in different settings for various communities as programme implementers, users and providers of services

– Empowering poor, vulnerable and marginalized communities to demand their right to health care and to improve the care provided

– Fighting stigma and discrimination which dis-empowers people and prevents them from using certain health services (e.g. STIs, etc.)

– Developing mechanisms for ensuring accountability, transparency and improved governance on the implementation of national plans, strategies and budgets to ensure that allocated resources are truly reaching intended beneficiaries for the improvement of their health.

Ensuring Meaningful Civil Society Engagement

• What is meaningful civil society engagement?

• Southern AND Northern Civil Society engagement• Recognition of civil society as equal partner in the delivery of the IHP+• Recognition of role of civil society within IHP+ management structures• Ability to contribute to and influence key decisions at national and

international levels• Collaboration on development of key guidelines and processes for

implementing, monitoring and evaluating the IHP+ (e.g. guidelines for country compact development; performance frameworks, external reviews)

• Ongoing dialogue and direct relationship with all IHP+ partners at national and international levels

Ensuring Meaningful Civil Society Engagement

• How to ensure meaningful civil society engagement:

• CS involvement in the development of country compacts• CS representatives on IHP+ country teams• 1x Southern and 1x Northern civil society representative on the SuRG and

SuRG + Development Partners groups.• CS representatives on each of SuRG Working Groups• CS Consultative Group to support CS representatives on SuRG & SuRG +

Development Partners groups• Regular teleconferences and meetings of national and international civil

society to discuss progress on the IHP+• Financial resources to support national and international civil society

engagement

Roles & Responsibilities of Civil Society Representatives

• Input into key decisions regarding the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the IHP+

• Coordinate contributions to the development of guidelines, performance frameworks and other key tools to support the implementation of the IHP+

• Support the effective sharing of information with civil society

Roles & Responsibilities of Civil Society Representatives

• Accountable to all constituencies affected by IHP+ including civil society groups with a focus on:

– Maternal health, child health, HIV and AIDS, TB, malaria, sexual and reproductive health, gender, poverty eradication, alleviation of hunger, health systems strengthening, health financing, and health planning.

• Civil society representatives to be drawn from constituencies of:– Affected communities; marginalised, vulnerable and difficult-to-reach

groups; service providers (both government and non-government providers); patient groups; CBOS, NGOs and FBOs; trade unions; professional associations and research institutes

Progress to Date

• IHP+ workplan includes reference to civil society• Civil society involved in Lusaka meeting (Feb 08)• Civil society engagement concept note developed and commented on by

international civil society• 1 civil society representative included in national health plans and strategies

working group• Agreement by SuRG to have:

– 1 x southern CS representative on SuRG monthly calls; – 1 x civil society representative on each SuRG Working Group; – 2 x CS representatives on SuRG + Development Partners bi-monthly calls

• CS established list-serve to support communication between all interested CS constituencies

• IHP+ website established to facilitate information sharing

Outstanding Questions on CS Engagement

• Feedback from IHP+ partners on proposed amendments to CS engagement model and steps to take to put CS engagement in place

• Availability of resources to support civil society engagement

• No. of CS representatives on SuRG • Selection process for CS representatives on SuRG• Support for consultative group• Level of commitment to engaging with civil society in

IHP+ partner countries

Proposal for CS representatives selection process

• Establish selection panel• CS reps from north and south to agree selection panel and develop

terms of reference for CS reps on SuRG, SuRG working groups, SuRG+, and CS consultative group

• Criteria for selection of CS representatives to include: policy experience, technical skills & experience, northern & southern representation

• Selection process and criteria to draw on existing criteria, process and terms of reference used for Global Fund and UNITAID CS representation

• Selection process to start ASAP

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!