Learning Objectives:

How can parliamentarians perform effective oversight of HIV/AIDS?

Introduction

“Accountability requires every President and Prime Minister, every parliamentarian and politician, to decide and declare that ‘AIDS stops with me’.”
Former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, during speech at World AIDS Day 2006 event in New York

One of parliament’s main roles and responsibilities, with regards to national HIV/AIDS strategies and responses, is to oversee the proper implementation and allocation of resources and to hold the government accountable to the citizens. Members of Parliament (MPs) influence the amount of budgetary resources allocated to HIV programs and have the authority to monitor and control the effectiveness of such programs. Parliaments are also the appropriate representative institution to conduct public consultations and field investigations to analyze whether government measures against HIV are adequate and reaching the citizens.

Unit 6 gives an introduction to the various aspects of parliamentary oversight and the role that parliament plays in the budget process. The unit also explores some of the key issues and challenges for ensuring HIV/AIDS allocations in the budget. In addition, it provides some tools and examples on how to increase the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight of the budget with special regards to HIV/AIDS related issues.