The Alliance and five other NGOs take the Code of Good Practice forward

06 March 2006

The Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS (the Code) was launched just over a year ago with the endorsement of over 160 NGO leaders. It aims to strengthen the collective voice of NGOs calling for quality, evidence-based HIV/AIDS programmes that respond to the needs of communities. Developed in consultation with a wide range of NGOs, it also seeks to help them improve their accountability to partner organisations and communities and to improve the quality of their HIV/AIDS work.

In order to ensure the effective implementation of the Code, the Alliance is pushing forward a transition phase to secure the funds needed to set up a Secretariat which will support NGOs in their efforts to realise the Code’s principles. Over the next few months, the funding proposal will be finalised and approaches made to donors.

Progress so far:

  • A new steering committee has been formed with six members. The Alliance is a founding member, represented by Caroline Halmshaw, Head of the Policy Team at the Alliance Secretariat. The other members are: Care International, Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, International Council of AIDS Service Organizations, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and International Planned Parenthood Federation.
  • An advisory committee of 12 members will be set up later, and signatory NGOs will be invited to nominate themselves on to it.
  • A consultation has identified the support needed by NGOs wanting to implement the Code.
  • International Planned Parenthood Federation is building staff knowledge of the Code in competency workshops with Member Associations. Members now need to report on how they are using, or will use, the Code in their work.
  • International Council of AIDS Service Organizations has included commitment to the Code as part of their criteria for selecting project partners.
  • Care International is leading an initiative to review civil society involvement with governments for UNGASS, and is using the Code as a framework in developing accountability tools

The Code will be presented at the plenary of the 1st International Conference on Reproductive and Health Management from 3–5 May in the Philippines.

For more information on the development of the Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS, contact Julia Powell.