 | Resource Guide for Theme Groups: Working together on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, 1998, 61 p.) |
 |  | V. Theme Group Management |
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V.6 Country Programme Adviser (CPA)
The Country Programme Adviser provides advice and support to the Theme Group, Technical Working Group and other stakeholders in the national response. He/she is recruited, internationally or locally, by the UNAIDS Secretariat or by the Theme Group or in a combined effort. The salaries of locally recruited CPAs may be paid by the UNAIDS Secretariat and/or one or more Theme Group members. The CPA has three main roles: facilitation, promotion of best practices, and advocacy.
As a facilitator, the CPA helps the Cosponsors work together to deliver an expanded response in support of governments and civil society and supports networking as a means to disseminate knowledge.
As a best practices promoter, the CPA encourages support for new and innovative approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention and care and documents and distributes information on lessons learned.
As an advocate, the CPA aims to build commitment among government authorities, donors, the media, civil society, and the private sector for a strengthened and expanded national response, and in particular, for such cross-cutting issues as human rights, gender, youth and the greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS.
The CPA s primary focus is the UN system. Therefore an important task is to provide leadership/support to the Theme Group and the Technical Working Group. A secondary and very important role for the CPA is to support the national response through advice, assistance and direct action, in such areas as strategic planning, resource mobilization, the development of partnerships and consensus-building.
As part of the Resident Coordinator system, the CPA, through the Theme Group Chairperson, reports to the UN Resident Coordinator.
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Summary of expectations · Assist with action-oriented workplans of the TG and TWG that focus on national strategic planning, advocacy and resource mobilization · Maintain and update database · Assist in formulation of projects for strategic planning and development funds · Broker or provide technical support to Cosponsors projects · Broker or provide technical support to government, e.g. National Strategic Planning · Brief ministerial delegations on HIV/AIDS and UNAIDS before important meetings · Actively engage major donors, NGOs and the private donors, e.g. Rotary International · Update country profiles · Assist with completion of Epidemiological Facts Sheets · Bimonthly, annual reporting |
KEY QUESTIONS
· Has the CPA assisted in the preparation of a Theme Group workplan?· Does the CPA ensure the timely distribution of agendas and minutes for meetings of the Theme Group/Technical Working Group?
· Does the CPA maintain effective consultation and liaison with the representatives and focal points in each of the Cosponsors?
· Does the CPA have a close relationship with the National AIDS Programme, helping to facilitate some of its major planning and review exercises?
· Is the CPA in contact with a broad range of stakeholders, including people living with HIV/AIDS?
[Examples]
· Terms of Reference of CPA (see Annex C)· In Poland UNDP made available its AIDS and Development National Programme Officer for full-time support to the Theme Group. In addition, the focal point received free office space and support. This office now also hosts the secretariat of the European Task Force on HIV Prevention among IDUs.
· In Mexico UNDP and WHO/PAHO share the costs for the salary of the national CPA, recruited by the TG.
· In Sri Lanka the UNAIDS Secretariat has paid the salary of the national CPA, recruited by the TG for the first six months with the understanding that the TG will assume this responsibility thereafter.
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