Page 90 - 41st Summit Brochure

The SADC Secretariat, in collaboration with A number of SADC Member States achieved the
UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa UNAIDS Global fast-track targets while others
(ROSA), commissioned a study on a “Situational surpassed their targets, well before the set deadlines.
Analysis of the Status of Open Distance Learning This milestone is an indicator that the goals of
(ODL) in SADC Member States”. The objectives of ending AIDS could potentially be realised in 2030.
this Baseline Study were as follows: The SADC Technical Guide for Key Population
• Assess the extent to which Member States was finalized and approved. The guide will assist
have developed national government policies Member States and national stakeholders to create
and strategies that provide an enabling an enabling environment for rapid and sustained
environment for ODL institutional delivery; increase in interventions for comprehensive HIV
• Explore whether national ODL quality and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. The
assurance frameworks have been established; interventions are drawn from the experiences of
• Assess the nature and extent of ODL SADC Member States, and case studies across the
infrastructure development and the region which have been documented in critical areas
continuous professional development and such as:
training of ODL teachers and lecturers; and • Convening participatory planning and
• Delineate the national ODL initiatives that oversight bodies;
have emerged in Member States, prior to and • Developing minimum service packages;
in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Developing scale-up plans for interventions;
In addition, the Secretariat and UNESCO ROSA • Assuring the safety and security of
jointly commissioned a research study to examine the beneficiaries and sustainability of
progress and challenges that national education data programmes;
and information systems have in producing reliable • Strengthening the participation of
information on SDG4. The Report findings were communities; and
presented during a Webinar on Data Gaps for SDG4 • Resource mobilization and sustainability.
targets in SADC Member States at the beginning of The SADC Secretariat has initiated the process
2021. of disbursing funds to Lead Implementing Partners
88 and 13 projects have been funded under Round
HIV AND AIDS Three of the HIV and AIDS Special Fund. The
projects are expected to be implemented between
The main objective under the RISDP is to facilitate May 2021 and May 2024 and will support the
the development and harmonization of policies and responses of SADC Member States in the fight
strategies that will enable SADC Member States to against HIV and AIDS. However, due to the ongoing
increase the access to quality health and HIV and COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of some
AIDS services and commodities, and to end AIDS projects has been delayed due to the prevailing
in the region by 2030. public health restrictions.

Activities undertaken during the past year Achievements towards Vision 2050 and RISDP
During year under review, activities that were 2020-2030
undertaken were to develop the SADC HIV and Harmonization and support for the implementation of
AIDS progress report which served to assess the Regional HIV and AIDS policies, strategies and
progress made by Member States on the 2020 guidelines are key in ending the pandemic in the
UNAIDS targets and develop strategies that will region, and the Unit continued to support Member
enhance the HIV response in the region. States in this regard. The SADC Guide for Key
SADC Member States have continued to Populations will assist Member States to address key
implement HIV and AIDS interventions in line with structural barriers to achieving regional HIV targets.
priorities articulated in the Maseru Declaration and The Unit, as directed by Ministers of Health and
the region saw a reduction in the number of Ministers responsible for HIV and AIDS, is rolling out
estimated new HIV infections by 37.3 percent in the use of New Technology in HIV Programming
2019 as compared to 2010. This decline in HIV through development of the SADC AGYW
incidence is still far less than -59,4% observed Application for effective HIV Prevention for adolescent
globally, however one Member State, Madagascar girls and young women. These developments will
continues to experience an increase in the number mitigate the impact of COVID 19 in HIV service
of new HIV infections (+195 percent as compared delivery and better prepare healthcare service delivery
to 2010). for future pandemics.