In addition to the grassroots community-based projects of the HDI, UNDP also collaborates with other UN agencies resident in the country, under the umbrella of the Resident Coordinator System. Two significant results of this partnership within the UN system are the UN Joint Programme for HIV/AIDS, and the Humanitarian Review in Myanmar, in both of which UNDP is actively participating.

Also important to the work of the UN system is its support for the UN's special initiatives in Myanmar in Myanmar.

Joint Programme for HIV/AIDS: Myanmar, 2003 -2005

The joint response to HIV/AIDS in Myanmar involves a wide range of partners including Government, United Nations agencies, international and national NGOs.

A new Joint Programme for HIV/AIDS: Myanmar, 2003-2005 is currently being developed to strengthen the enabling environment and support capacity for prevention and care of HIV/AIDS in Myanmar. This programme will build towards the establishment of an effective multisectoral response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and in the longer term the mitigation of the health and socioeconomic impact on the people of Myanmar.

The Joint Programme comprises five components based on priorities identified by implementing partners with the following key objectives:

1. Individual risk of sexual transmission of HIV reduced
2. Individual risk of HIV transmission among injecting drug users and their partners reduced.
3. Awareness of HIV/AIDS among the general population, particularly young people, increased.
4. Access and quality of care, treatment, and support for people living with HIV/AIDS increased.
5. Essential elements of the enabling environment for an effective expanded national response strengthened.

A range of funding modalities will be available for donors to support the Joint Programme. These include the following: (a) Fund for HIV/AIDS in Myanmar (b) direct official development assistance funding through agencies in Myanmar; (c) direct funding through individual agency core resources; (d) funding through regional United Nations project mechanisms; (e) funding through bilateral projects; (f) global partnership agreements; and (g) Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The Joint Programme will require approximately USD 51 million to implement the full range of projects. To date, approximately USD 30 million has been pledged.

The United Nations Expanded Theme Group in Myanmar will play an important role in overseeing the successful implementation of the Joint Programme.

Humanitarian Review in Myanmar: A framework for Action

In response to requests from the international community, it was decided that the UN Country Team in Myanmar, under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, should carry out a needs assessment on humanitarian conditions in the country in order to facilitate the planning of appropriate short-term as well as longer-term initiatives.

Subsequently, the UN country Team initiated the preparation of a report entitled "Humanitarian Review in Myanmar: A framework for action to find ways to better meet the needs of the people." The objectives of this initiative are to raise awareness of the current situation in the country, influence policies, mobilize resources and strengthen partnerships with stakeholders. The resulting document will provide information on the most recent basic needs of the population at this time and provide a basis for informed decisions on humanitarian assistance by the international community. The situation analysis, when completed, will be further complemented with summaries of short-term, quick-impact interventions to meet the immediate needs of communities, as well as medium and longer-term actions that need to be taken to sustain the immediate impact of the short-term activities.

Support for UN Special Initiatives

An important aspect of the work of the Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team is the support it provides to UN special initiatives in Myanmar, notably the missions of the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy to Myanmar, Mr. Razali Ismail, and of the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Mr. Pinheiro.

Both Mr. Razali and Mr. Pinheiro have also lent their support to the UN system's activities, within the framework of their respective missions.

This complementary and mutual support continues to be an example of the operational and normative aspects of the UN system's work coming together around the objectives of reconciliation and development for the people of the country.