AMICAALL UKRAINE

In 2002, the UN AMICAALL Partnership Programme, with support from UNAIDS, initiated a process of sharing information on AMICAALL and lessons learned with countries in Eastern and Central Europe.

In response to interest expressed from government, local authorities, the Association of Ukrainian Cities, non-governmental organizations, UN and other partners in Ukraine, AMICAALL was launched in Crimea, Ukraine in 2002 in four cities - Feodosia, Simferopol, Yalta and Yevpatoria. City level consultations and planning workshops have been held; municipal HIV/AIDS teams are being set up, city to city cooperation is being developed between cities and towns in Crimea and cities in the EU; resource mobilization has been initiated to expand HIV/AIDS related services and programmes at the local level.

The Mayors of 4 key Crimean cities - Simferopol, Yalta, Feodosia and Yevpatoria - have signed the Simferopol Declaration on HIV/AIDS and Local Response and committed themselves to work with local and other partners to build capacity and systems at local government level to respond to the growing challenges of HIV/AIDS in their cities. Local government leaders in other Ukrainian cities have also expressed interest in joining their peers and initiating action on HIV/AIDS in their cities and towns.

Working together and responding to local needs
AMICAALL is based on a concept of partnership between local govenment authorities, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, community based organizations and vulnerable populations, so that TOGETHER, they can find appropriate and sustainable responses to HIV/AIDS.

Mayoral commitment
Mayors and local leaders take the initiative to develop HIV/AIDS strategies and action plans on HIV/AIDS in their cities and towns in collaboration with civil society.

Team work and coordination
Municipal HIV/AIDS Teams are composed of representatives from different sectors, local government, civil society organizations, vulnerable groups. They meet regularly to exchange information, enhance coordination amongst service providers, monitor progress, identify gaps and opportunities for expanding HIV/AIDS related services and programs.

Enhancing capacity to expand and sustain HIV/AIDS services at the local level, this includes:
Needs and response assessments of service users and providers;
Participatory action planning, monitoring and evaluation;
Coordination and referral systems to address gaps, minimize duplication, maximize use of limited resources;
Development of transparent financial accounting systems at municipal levels to enable contracting between local government authorities and NGOs based on clear criteria and to expand resource mobilization at local, national and international levels;
City to city cooperation to exchange information and experience on good practices and expand access to technical and other resources.

Policy dialogue and an enabling environment
Policy dialogue among local/national decision makers, experts, vulnerable groups to discuss social and economic causes and impact of HIV/AIDS and policy, legal and regulatory changes that need to be made to enable municipalities to be more effective in confronting HIV/AIDS

UN AMICAALL Partnership Programme (UN APP)
Established in April 2001 with support from UNAIDS and based in Geneva, Switzerland, UN APP is working with local government authorities and other partners, public and private, to expand municipal responses to HIV/AIDS.