EECA Initiative on Harm Reduction Moves a Few Steps Closer to Submitting a Concept Note

Author:

David Garmaise

Article Type:

Article Number: 8

ABSTRACT Following online and regional consultations, the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network has submitted a draft project concept to the Global Fund for review by the Secretariat and the Technical Review Panel. The next step for the HIV and harm reduction initiative will be the submission of the concept note itself.

The Eurasian Harm Reduction Network (EHRN) has submitted a draft project concept to the Global Fund for review by the Secretariat and the Technical Review Panel (TRP) prior to submitting a full concept note. EHRN is the applicant for a regional initiative in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) on HIV and harm reduction. This is part of the transition phase of the new funding model (NFM).

EHRN provided an update on its project in a report dated 3 July.

EHRN has held several online consultations and also organised a regional meeting on 13–14 June in Vilnius, Lithuania. The consultations helped EHRN establish the project’s goals, objectives and governance structures.

The goal of initiative is “to increase successful advocacy driven by people who use drugs in EECA to expand domestic funding for, and increased quality of, basic harm reduction services in the transition to sustainable national ownership.” The objectives of the initiative are as follows:

1. to increase the level of domestic funding for essential harm reduction services of appropriate quality in countries that are currently transitioning, or have recently transitioned, from international to domestic funding, to ensure sustainability; and
2. to build the capacity of the community of people who use drugs to advocate on issues of access, quality and sustainability of essential harm reduction services.

Through the consultations process, EHRN has agreed that the process for identifying the countries that will participate in the initiative will involve an open call for expressions of interest from civil society and community-based organisations.

The consultations also helped to determine the governance structure for the initiative. Three bodies will share responsibility for concept note development, grant implementation and grant oversight: a Steering Committee, a Regional Oversight Committee and a Regional Technical Advisory Group.

Further information can be obtained from Sergey Votyagov or Ivan Varentsov, the focal points at the EHRN Secretariat for the regional application.