Issued by The Presidency
1 December 2006
1. Background
The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on AIDS was the first high-level political body that was established to oversee the national response to HIV and AIDS. This committee was established at the end of 1997 and was chaired by the then Deputy President, Mr Thabo Mbeki. All ministers and deputy ministers attended committee meetings. The main objectives of the committee were to provide leadership, political oversight and guidance to the HIV and AIDS programme.
In January 2000, SANAC replaced the IMC. The establishment of SANAC was recognition of the need for stronger political leadership as well as meaningful participation of all sectors of society in the co-ordination and monitoring of a multisectoral national response to HIV and AIDS.
In May 2006, SANAC decided to conduct an internal review to inform restructuring for a more efficient council. Then in September 2006, the Cabinet decided on establishing the IMC to strengthen the implementation of the comprehensive HIV and AIDS programme, improve co-ordination and communication, and monitor implementation. This committee consists of ministers who are members of SANAC; including the ministries of health, of education, of social development, of public service and administration, of provincial and local government, and The Presidency. Cabinet also reaffirmed its commitment to fighting the AIDS pandemic in partnership with all sectors and mandated the Deputy President, as chairperson of SANAC, to take concrete steps to strengthen SANAC. This came at a time when the SANAC review process was underway.
Below is a record of agreements that have been reached during a series of meetings between September and November 2006, on how SANAC will be restructured to make it more effective, accountable and able to play a leadership role in our efforts to overcome the HIV and AIDS epidemics. All relevant partners, including Cabinet, have agreed to this record.
2. The new structure of SANAC
It has been agreed that SANAC will be a high-level multisectoral partnership body. Its aim is to play a leadership role, ensuring consensus is built and maintained on issues of policy and strategy, as well as overseeing overall implementation and review of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) (2007-2011) on HIV and AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), as well as the National Comprehensive Plan for Management, Treatment and Care of HIV and AIDS for South Africa.
SANAC aims to build commitment and foster relationships that help improve health outcomes for all South Africans. SANAC will also encourage sectors to organise themselves and provide progress reports to it regarding the implementation of the NSP.
The Deputy President of South Africa will chair SANAC. The sectors will elect the deputy chairperson from the leaders represented in the civil society sectors of SANAC.
2.1. The specific objectives of SANAC will be to:
- advise government on HIV, AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) policy and strategy, and related matters
- create and strengthen partnerships for an expanded national response to HIV and AIDS in South Africa
- receive and disseminate all sectoral interventions to HIV and AIDS and consider challenges
- to oversee continual monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of the NSP.
2.2 A high-level strategic leadership structure
Representation at SANAC will be at the highest possible level for all sectors. In this regard it is proposed that membership should include the ministers who are members of the IMC, presidents/chairpersons of the sectors and two additional representatives of the respective sectors. While not formally members, the directors-general of the IMC would be in attendance at meetings of SANAC to support the ministers.
The Department of Health will play a central role in providing advice and support on issues relating to HIV and AIDS policy, and will be an ex officio member of all levels of SANAC.
This high-level plenary structure of SANAC will have at least two meetings annually, and will be supported by the following levels.
2.3 The SANAC sectors
As part of the restructuring there has been a rationalisation of sectors that are members of SANAC, as well as the introduction of sectors that were previously not part of SANAC.
The following sectors will be recognised as partners in SANAC:
The following government ministries are members of the IMC:
- Health ? for health sector and a lead department
- Education ? for education sector
- Transport ? for economic cluster
- Minerals and Energy ? for the mining sector
- Social Development ? for social cluster
- Public Service and Administration ? for the governance and administration cluster
- Correctional Services ? for the justice cluster
- Labour
- the business sector
- the labour sector
- the religious sector
- the non-governmental organisation and community-based organisation sector
- a sector of organisations representing people living with HIV and AIDS
- the traditional leaders sector
- the traditional healers sector
- the youth sector
- a sector of academic and research organisations working in health
- a higher education sector
- a women's sector
- a men's sector
- a sector of organisations working on human rights
- a sector of health professionals
- the disability sector
- the children's sector
- a sports and entertainment sector
- a media sector.
It has been agreed that in the coming months, SANAC will approve generic guidelines about how sectors are constituted, are accountable and conduct themselves. In addition, the Government has offered to provide financial assistance to permit sectors in need to consolidate and strengthen their operations.
2.4 Programme and Implementation Committee
SANAC will appoint a programme committee, comprising fewer than 30 members of the various sectors represented in the high-level structure, the directors-general of the IMC and representation from the sectoral co-ordinating committees (see below).
The programme committee will essentially be a technical committee whose work will be to share experiences, review the implementation of programmes and strategies of the NSP, and make recommendations to SANAC.
The Directors-General of the Social Cluster will chair this committee, which will hold at least four meetings annually or more if the need arises. It will work through sub-committees focusing on the pillars of the NSP, namely prevention, treatment and care, support and human rights.
2.5 Sectoral level co-ordinating structures
Much stronger partnerships between government and civil society are needed for the implementation of the NSP in crucial areas of society and the economy. Therefore it has been agreed that a number of committees for sectoral co-ordination of programmes will be established. The relevant government departments within these sectors will lead those sector-co-ordinating committees. The sectors are as follows:
- Public Administration (led by the Department of Public Service and Administration)
- Mining (led by the Department of Minerals and Energy)
- Transport (led by the Department of Transport)
- Agriculture (led by the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs)
- Community Development (led by The Presidency and the Department of Social Development)
- Education (led by the Department of Education)
- Justice (led by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development)
The main objectives of these committees will be to co-ordinate and review implementation of sector-specific programmes. The precise terms of reference of these committees are still to be decided.
2.6 Resource Mobilisation Committee (RMC) For Global Fund and Other Resources
In future a separate committee, linked to but separate from SANAC, will be appointed to deal with Global Fund matters. The aim of this committee, referred to as the Resources Mobilisation Committee for Global Fund and Other Resources (RMC), will be to:
- co-ordinate the submission of one national proposal for grant funding
- select one or more appropriate organisation(s) to act as the Principal Recipient(s) (PR) for Global Fund grants
- monitor the implementation of activities under Global Fund-approved programmes, including approving major changes in implementation plans
- evaluate the performance of these programmes, including a Performance Review (PR), and submit a request for continued funding prior to the end of the two years of initially approved financing
- look at other opportunities for resource mobilisation to support implementation of the NSP.
The Minister of Health will chair the RMC, which would comprise two ministers appointed by the IMC, and nominees of sectors represented in the high-level SANAC structure.
The RMC will meet at least once every three months and more frequently if the need arises. The Department of Health or Forum of South African Directors-General will act as the secretariat for the RMC.
2.7 Secretariat to SANAC
The successful establishment of the new SANAC and its efficient functioning depends on a professional full-time secretariat. Therefore it has been agreed that the present SANAC secretariat will be strengthened to create greater capacity, as well as technical expertise, to manage SANAC issues.
The precise terms of reference of the Secretariat as well as its staffing are still to be decided.
The Department of Health will be an ex officio member of all SANAC structures, and will provide guidance and technical support to the structures.
3. Immediate plans
During late 2006, much work had gone into developing a new NSP (2007-2011), a plan which will obviously be the backbone of SANAC. Draft 8 of the NSP is being made available on World AIDS Day, 1 December, for public comment.
In addition, a technical task team is being established to further refine the current draft of the NSP. Its mandate is to complete this work before a National Consultative Conference on the implementation of the NSP, expected to take place in February/March 2007. Shortly after this conference, the SANAC plenary will hold its first meeting.
4. Conclusion
The HIV and AIDS epidemic presents South Africans with tremendous challenges. Too many people have been infected. Too many people have died. But if we work together, AIDS can be beaten. South Africa is uniting in its efforts to combat the epidemic and from now on SANAC will embody that unity and purpose.