(SANAC): Record of Agreement
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:
a. advise government on HIV, AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
policy and strategy, and related matters
b. create and strengthen partnerships for an expanded national response to HIV
and AIDS in South Africa
c. receive and disseminate all sectoral interventions to HIV and AIDS and
consider challenges
d. 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:
1. Health � for health sector and a lead department
2. Education � for education sector
3. Transport � for economic cluster
4. Minerals and Energy � for the mining sector
5. Social Development � for social cluster
6. Public Service and Administration � for the governance and administration
cluster
7. Correctional Services � for the justice cluster
8. 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.
Issued by: The Presidency
1 December 2006
