10 CONCLUSION
94. Our 2008 Report on HIV/AIDS broadly welcomed
DFID's new AIDS Strategy but pointed to the significant gap left
by the absence of a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. The publication
of the Framework and the accompanying Baseline document are welcome
developments. The next step will be the first biennial progress
report on the implementation of the Strategy, and we look forward
to its publication in December 2010.
95. However, effective monitoring and evaluation
of the Strategy is only one of the issues of concern that we
raised last year. Neither the Government's response to our 2008
Report, nor the evidence we took in this year's inquiry, have
allayed our concerns about the extent to which the Strategy will
ensure that all those in need of HIV/AIDS care receive it. In
particular, it is still not clear to us that children, women and
marginalised and vulnerable groups will benefit from DFID's programmes
for health service strengthening and social protection.
96. While generally welcoming DFID's focus on fragile
and low-income countries, we are concerned that the AIDS epidemic
in middle-income countries is not being adequately addressed by
the other Government departments to which this responsibility
has been passed.
97. As we said last year, HIV/AIDS will continue
to present a huge challenge to both developing countries and donors
for many years to come. DFID is a lead donor for and supporter
of HIV/AIDS services. We are pleased to note the UK's adherence
to its funding commitments, but the global economic downturn has
cast further doubt on whether other donors' funding pledges will
be met. DFID must continue to demonstrate that its focus on this
crucial development challenge has not diminished and to put pressure
on its donor partners to do the same.
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