We have provided more than US$2.7 billion in grants, credits, and loans in over 100 projects since 1988-one of the major sources of funding for HIV & AIDS worldwide.  The Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program (MAP) for Africa has committed $1.2 billion to help countries expand their national prevention, care and treatment programs.  A similar program in the Caribbean has provided US$118 million for 9 countries and one regional project.  A series of projects in India and Brazil have helped build effective HIV/AIDS agencies and expertise at national and state level, engage NGOs in prevention and care, build public awareness, and bolster political commitment.  Brazil's investment in prevention and treatment has kept HIV prevalence below 1% and halved AIDS-related deaths.  Prevalence trends in India show hopeful signs.  Recent Bank funding includes a grant to help Vietnam prevent HIV infection and reduce stigma and discrimination, in line with its national strategy, transferring most of the funds directly to provinces and cities.  Lebanon is the first Middle Eastern country to receive a grant to strengthen HIV monitoring, evaluation and surveillance.  New projects in Eritrea and Angola support multi-disease approaches to address malaria, TB and reproductive health alongside HIV.  Recent support for Burkina Faso's HIV/AIDS program is integrated with a health systems program.  There are now other major sources of grants for HIV;  even so, our funding remains important, especially for countries and interventions that others do not fund, and to ensure sustained, long-term, predictable funding.

A new AIDS Strategy and Action Plan (ASAP) service, housed at the World Bank on behalf of UNAIDS, helps countries strengthen their national AIDS strategies and action plans.  Prioritized, evidence-driven strategies and plans that can be carried out effectively;  with clear objectives, accountability, and costing, and good monitoring and evaluation systems, will help achieve stronger results.