Resources for

Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program (MAP)

In September 2000, the Bank launched the Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program for Africa (MAP)

The MAP addresses the short-comings that are summarized below by committing substantial IDA resources and leveraging co-financing on a country-by-country basis through the International Partnership Against AIDS in Africa (IPAA)

MAP made an initial amount of US$500 million in flexible and rapid funding available to African countries to assist in scaling up national HIV/AIDS efforts. The Bank also approved an additional US$500 million in IDA financing in 2002 for the second stage of the Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program (MAP) for Africa.

MAP has now committed $1.12 billion to 29 countries and US$107 million to four sub-regional (i.e. cross-border) projects . All IDA countries in good standing have MAP projects approved. MAP performance has accelerated steadily and has disbursed more than $500 million .

MAP support for the mobilization of civil society has been especially promising having funded nearly 49,000 NGO, faith- and community-based subprojects, many at grassroots level. Several countries are now well advanced in preparation for the second generation MAP projects.

Most Sub-Saharan African countries have strategic plans and ongoing AIDS prevention programs. While some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have made progress in reversing the spread of the epidemic most have not, despite having national HIV/AIDS programs.

Their efforts have fallen short for five principal reasons:

1	they have been inadequately financed;
2	there has been inadequate government commitment and leadership;
3	support from governments and the international community has been too slow, especially for scaling up programs, often developed by NGOs, that have proven effective;
4	not enough resources have reached communities;
5	and programs have been too narrowly focused on the health sector.

The overall development objective of the MAP is to dramatically increase access to HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment programs, with emphasis on vulnerable groups (such as youth, women of childbearing age, and other groups at high risk). The specific development objectives of each individual country project, as stated in the national strategic plans, provide the basis for this program and are agreed upon at the time of appraisal of the national projects. A key feature of the MAP is direct support to community organizations, NGOs, and the private sector for local HIV/AIDS initiatives.

MAP Approach

The emphasis of the new approach, due to the nature of the epidemic, is on speed, scaling up existing programs, building capacity, "learning by doing" and continuous project rework, rather than on exhaustive up-front technical analysis of individual interventions. The new approach relies on immediate monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of programs to determine which activities are efficient and effective and should be expanded further and which are not and should be stopped or benefit from more capacity building. Funding "good" programs quickly is more important than funding "best practices" with delay which results in even more HIV/AIDS victims.

Country programs are designed to:
1	Empower stakeholders with funding and decision-making authority;
2	Involve actors at all levels, from individuals and villages to regions and central authorities;
3	Provide support to the public and private sectors and in civil society; and
4	Encompass all sectors and the full range of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support, and mitigation activities.

The MAP approach represents the first phase of a long-term World Bank commitment to support the national mobilization of Sub-Saharan African countries against the HIV/AIDS epidemic In its design, the MAP is unprecedented in its flexibility and coverage.

Eligibility Criteria for MAP Participation

The funds are available to any African country that meets simple eligibility criteria, including eligibility for IDA credits.
1	Satisfactory evidence of a strategic approach to HIV/AIDS, developed in a participatory manner;
2	Existence of a high-level HIV/AIDS coordinating body, with broad representation of key stakeholders from all sectors, including people living with HIV/AIDS;
3	Government commitment to quick implementation arrangements, including channeling grant funds for HIV/AIDS activities directly to communities, civil society, and the private sector; and
4	Agreement by the government to use multiple implementation agencies, especially NGOs/Community Based Organizations.