Asian People’s Alliance for Combating HIV&AIDS

Early 2004

A group of people while preparing the First Time to Act in Asia report on HIV&AIDS realized a need of a multisectoral alliance in Asia which could bring and mobilize all constituencies together to address the causes and consequences of the epidemic. The idea was being discussed among different stakeholders all over Asia. Then, during the Bangkok AIDS conference in July 2004, a number of people representing Trade Unions, University, student unions, PLHIV, lawyers, youths, I/NGOs, representatives from media and people’s health movement came together outside of the formal conference and took decision to initiate multisectoral people’s platform in Asia. The network was given name of “Asia Pacific People’s Alliance for Combating HIV&AIDS (APPACHA). The support from Actionaid International Asia and People’s health movement was instrumental to facilitate the process.

Following the event, a number of countries started to initiate their national chapters such as in Nepal, India, and Cambodia and in Pakistan. There was a new excitement across which helped APACHA to take a momentum, there were exciting mobilizations as well.

Based on the recommendations of country chapters and actors, APPACHA was renamed as Asian People’s Alliance for Combating HIV&AIDS (APACHA) during the Governance and HIV&AIDS workshop of APACHA in Delhi in 2004.

Transition Phase

Though APACHA was active for some time around 2004 and first part of 2005, gradually it lost its momentum. There was a team of International Coordination Committee which comprised of 12 members representing the Asia region, under this committee there were few sub committees. However, things could not move ahead and these committees were almost passive and non functional due to several reasons.

Gradually APACHA started to lose its momentum. Only few country chapters such as in Nepal, Pakistan and Cambodia were active but they too were becoming passive and for a quite long period of time APACHA was inactive. Then, a study was conducted to identify challenges that were blocking for the growth of APACHA.

Revival, visibility and expansion Phase

The study gave birth of the idea to establish an independent secretariat of APACHA. Then, based on the legitimacy of being an active country chapter, the study recommended establishing the International Secretariat in Nepal. Similarly, a local likeminded organization willing to host the secretariat was explored by a team. Out of three potential interested organizations, finally Nepal Institute of Development Studies (NIDS) was identified as the host organization. By the early 2006 International Secretariat was established in Nepal.

Simultaneously, by early 2006, Prabodh Devkota, as the coordinator, was given responsibility to lead, manage and facilitate over all responsibilities related to APACHA at all level. Mr. Devkota was the first Coordinator of APACHA. The entire mission was to revive APACHA and to take it to the next level. For almost a period of one year, Mr. Devkota was the only person to look after the entire APACHA process in the International Secretariat, however, he was given office space, and admin and finance support from NIDS. It was the critical time for APACHA to revive its chapters, to build the system, to connect with other constituencies and to establish APACHA. To facilitate initiatives Actionaid International Asia, NIDS and APACHA International Secretariat had an agreement to support each other which played an important role to take the next phase mission of APACHA. Some of the major targets for the next phase mission were:

To activate country chapters
To expand country chapters
To establish effective communication system
To establish well functioning international secretariat
To maintain visibility of APACHA at country, regional and global level
To connect with new constituencies
To form the APACHA international board
To raise fund
To mobilize constituencies for Campaigns
To establish APACHA as a alternative policy platform

During the initial phase, the international secretariat had tough time even to manage internet for a long period of time, the struggle actually started with a chair and a broken table but with a lot of commitment, conviction and moral support. However, gradually things worked. International Secretariat started to connect with country chapters, mobilize teams, develop interim action plans, local fund raising tactics, mobilization of country chapters in campaign initiatives, creation of website and turning it into knowledge hub, expanding new country chapters, and connecting with new actors and engaging in international forums. We also identified alternative policy perspective as one of our major strengths. Gradually, things worked with series of ups and downs.

APACHA emerged as one of the watch dogs to observe the functioning of CCMs in Asia. The team within the secretariat expanded. Then Ms. Kamana Gurung joined as the assistant in the international Secretariat, after she left, Ms. Shristi Joshi joined as the assistant then almost one year later Ms. Durga Shrestha joined as the program officer. Later, Ms. Shristi Joshi took responsibility of program and communication coordinator. The team was small, but put its mind and heart together and worked days and nights.

APACHA started to be acknowledged in various national and international forums, APACHA started to get space in important platforms like ICAAP, in GFATM meetings; along with important space in holding sessions, a number of APACHA representatives were in the review panel to review ICAAP abstracts. APACHA emerged as the watchdog around the issues of democratizing CCMs in Asia. SAARC Second Conference was held from 15-18th December, 2008 in Kathmandu where APACHA engaged itself with the SAARC team and played a key role during the conference. It was very strategic platform for APACHA where it was the only regional network closely working with SAARC initiatives.

APACHA country chapters too became able to maintain their visibility; the region was experiencing a unique mobilization of multisectoral constituencies from across the region. It was indeed a unique for APACHA and to the Asian AIDS response too. During this period APACHA also got significant media attention throughout Asia.

Publications of reality check report proved to be the milestone for APACHA in alternative policy debates. Similarly Moving ahead has been established as the annual formal report for APACHA. On the other, publication of Solidarity has helped us to connect with country chapters and other actors with updates, informations and ideas.

APACHA conducted a meeting in Bangkok, where members from the country chapters, representatives from core support groups, representatives from UNAIDS and GFATM and other civil society actors joined hands. This meeting came up with a new governing board of APACHA which marked a next phase journey for APACHA. Similarly, a number of likeminded institutions such as CARE International, Actionaid International, Lutheran World fare, Concern International joined hands with APACHA as the core support groups which have been a landmark for the growth of APACHA. APACHA played important role to hold the first ever Global Citizen’s summit in collaboration with UNAIDS, Oxfam, Actionaid, Panos and other institutions which took place in Kenya.

To expand the constituencies’ new country chapters such as Vietnam and Indonesia, were mobilized. Country chapters such as in Nepal, Cambodia and India came up with their new localized governance mechanism to further strengthen the country chapters. A fundraising mission was started; along with small support APACHA became a long term partner for big lottery fund initiative along with CARE International. This project is expected to be the milestone for APACHA to build its image as a people’s network with in-depth research background. Similarly, other agencies started to support in various functions. With all these learning, challenges and successes and along with a conviction to grow new leaders, by early 2009, Mr. Prabodh Devkota, the Asia Coordinator, left APACHA. These three years became extremely important for APACHA to establish itself as one of the leading people’s platform and the only multisectoral regional networks in Asia. The changes and experiences that APACHA brought within a short period of three years’ time has been a new hope for next phase journey of APACHA.

Along with these struggles and achievements APACHA got a new life. Then, the third phase of APACHA begins now. In absence of the Asia Coordinator, Dr. Anita Manandhar worked as the interim coordinator for a period of five months.