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'Three Ones'

Following consultations in 2003 with African governments, multilateral and bilateral agencies, and a number of other stakeholders, a set of three key principles – the ‘Three Ones’ – were developed. These principles are meant to apply to all stakeholders with the aim of strengthening coordination of national responses to HIV and AIDS. They encourage each country to have:

  1. One agreed HIV/AIDS action framework that provides the basis for coordinating the work of all partners.
  2. One national AIDS coordinating authority, with a broad-based multi-sectoral mandate.
  3. One agreed country-level monitoring and evaluation system.

Community sector involvement in the initial development of the ‘Three Ones’, including the design of the principles, was limited.  In response, in 2005 ICASO and partners wrote a discussion paper on the issues being raised by the community sector on the application of the ‘Three Ones’ at the country level.

Over time, the community sector has gradually become more engaged, although experiences of the implementation of the ‘Three Ones’ have been mixed. In some contexts, the principles have encouraged action to ensure that the sector is increasingly involved and respected as a full partner. However, in many other contexts, the sector remains an ‘outsider’ or has been co-opted as an extension of government and excluded from decision making. In some countries this has resulted in an increased centralisation of funds and power within government, undermining the ‘Three Ones’ principles, which are designed to achieve greater coordination and partnership.

In response, ICASO, the African Council of AIDS Service Organizations (AfriCASO) and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, through the support of UNAIDS,  developed ”Coordinating with Communities – Guidelines on the Involvement of the Community Sector in the Coordination of National AIDS Responses”. The aim of these guidelines is to strengthen the active and meaningful involvement of the community sector in the development, implementation and monitoring of coordinated national AIDS responses.