Stichting Aids Fonds - STOP AIDS NOW - Soa Aids Nederland (SANL) is host organisation of the network AIDS Action Europe (AAE). SANL is a national organisation that aims to prevent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and improve the quality of STI control in the Netherlands. The operating grant is requested for the core work programme of AAE.
AAE`s mission is to unite civil society to work towards a more effective response to the HIV epidemic in Europe and Central Asia. We strive for better protection of human rights and universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support. We work towards a reduction of health inequalities focussing on most at risk populations and the epidemic in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
We envision a world where people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS can enjoy life free from stigma, discrimination, and persecution, and have universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support.
AAE`s policy, advocacy and linking and learning work is shaped by a set of core values: be accountable and hold others accountable; be transparent; be inclusive; put in practice the GIPA principle (greater involvement of people living with HIV); work from a human rights based approach; facilitate a networking and partnership culture; be cost-effective; and make a difference.
Our mission is communicated through our website, in our promotion leaflet, work plans and annual reports, among others.

Framed by our mission, vision, guiding principles and core values, AAE`s strategic objectives in Europe and Central Asia are to strengthen civil society`s contribution to a more effective response to the HIV epidemic by:
- Making an effective and meaningful contribution to regional and national policies related to HIV and AIDS;
- Facilitating continuous exchange among NGOs on good practices and lessons learned related to HIV and AIDS;
- Developing a stronger, more effective organisation and network.

AAE`s core activities focus around advocacy and policy advice, linking & learning and network strengthening. Starting from the epidemiological reality of our region combined with human rights and public health challenges, our work focuses on the groups that are most affected: men having sex with men, people using drugs and migrants. Within this context, we aim to strengthen civil society`s response since non-governmental organisations (NGOs)and community based groups in our region have been at the forefront of providing services and support for the above groups and PLHIV. Acknowledging the severity of the epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, we particularly call for support to a more effective response to this part of our region. Even though we prioritise the above mentioned groups and subregions we are however an inclusive network, facilitating learning, exchange and cooperation among civil society in the wider European and Central Asian region.
AAE undertakes advocacy efforts and is continuously involved in policy influencing and advice at the European level. As co-chair, together with EATG, of the HIV/AIDS Civil Society Forum (CSF) since 2005, we prepare, organise and chair 2 CSF meetings yearly (Brussels & Luxembourg). AAE also acts as rapporteur of the CSF meetings and ensures follow-up including exchange and communication among the CSF members. AAE is also a member of the HIV/AIDS Think Tank (TT) and has 3 seats at the twice-yearly TT meetings following the CSF. The CSF and TT advisory bodies enable AAE`s pro-active involvement in development and implementation of European HIV/AIDS policies. We played a key role in the development as well as monitoring of implementation of the EU HIV/AIDS Communication 2009-2013. In 2013 AAE will contribute to the implementation of the final year of the Commission Communication, be involved in its final evaluation and the development of a third EU policy 2013-2017. In our overall advocacy we will continue to raise awareness about the main challenges for our region, including legal issues; early testing and treatment; limitations in access to treatment, specifically for key populations; treatment interruptions and stock-outs; underfunding of HIV prevention; human rights abuse; HIV & co-infections. We will organise a round table of legal experts as input to develop a European Forum of legal experts, expanding earlier work in this area through EPAA project & other activities. AEE has committed itself to prevent duplication of existing activities by stimulating linking and learning and encouraging our members and partners to share their work. In 2007 we launched the Clearinghouse ; the online database on HIV and AIDS for Europe and Central Asia. As a subsite of the AAE website, it is closely linked to the members profiles on aidsactioneurope.org. The maintenance and promotion of the AAE website and Clearinghouse has evolved into one of AAE`s core activities. Maintenance includes day to day updates of the site as well as its hosting and making technical (usability) improvements. Promotion takes place through different communications activities, including our e-news alerts; monthly Clearinghouse updates; (e)mailings; dissemination of leaflets/flyers and other promotion materials; presentations at events; promotion through other websites (through link-seeding); and social media channels.
AAE is also involved, through separate funding channels, as co-chair in the HIV in Europe initiative and as member in the IQHIV initiative which is expected to develop into a Joint Action in 2013.

The work programme contributes to AAE`s strategy 2011-2015
Objective I: Strengthen civil society contributions to regional and national HIV/AIDS policies and programmes
Activities/Means:
1. Contribute to implementation, M&E of Commission Communication + other policies/programmes
(implement last year action plan Communication; coordinate NGO input in evaluation Communication; provide input for developing new Communication; input into WHO/UNAIDS/ECDC policies; review Dublin + Vilnius Declarations plus 10)
2. Act as CSF co-chair
(manage CSF coordination group[AAE co-chair reimbursed as external expert]; organise 2 CSF meetings (Brussels/Luxembourg); manage online CSF group; calls for support & action)
3. Advocate as AAE for civil society concerns at European policy opportunities and support NGOs in their advocacy
(travel of staff, SC & CSF co-chair to represent civil society in key European events[ECDC/WHO/UNAIDS meetings,IQHIV, HIV in Europe conference in EE, Human Rights Conference]; round table legal experts London), proposal for legal experts forum (external expert)
Outcomes:
-NGOs/stakeholders are well-informed about policy developments (Indicators(I): 2 CSF meetings with 40 people from 25 countries; no. of NGOs receiving information on CSF agenda/ reports; 90% CSF members satisfied with quality of information)
-CSF involved in evaluation of current and development new Communication (I: evaluation & new Communication is on agenda of both CSF meetings; no. of CSF members involved in Communication implementation)
-Civil society concerns are advocated for at international policy opportunities (I: 2 key advocacy issues, incl. forum of legal experts, are put on agenda; min. 3 meetings where AAE presented civil society concerns with focus on Dublin & Vilnius +10)
Objective II: Increase collaboration, linking & learning, and good practice exchange among NGOs, networks, policy makers and other stakeholders
Activities/Means:
4. Offer good practice exchange via Clearinghouse
(maintenance + promotion Clearinghouse [website, newsletters, facebook, twitter, wordpress, RSS, Youtube, Linkedin, link seeding, print materials, events, mailings EN/RU; [subcontract for management of Russian communication channels)
5. Promote linking & learning through collaboration with members/partners/(EU)projects
(above communication channels)
Outcomes:
-Clearinghouse + users regularly updated (I: monthly Clearinghouse updates; new uploads communicated via facebook + twitter)
-Target group use Clearinghouse more (I: % increase in new publications; no. of downloads and accounts; 50% traffic via referring sites)
-Target group is satisfied about Clearinghouse (I: 50% return visits)
-News, vacancies, events, materials of members/partners disseminated through our communication channels (indicator: via website, members/partners/EU project profiles, e-news, facebook, twitter)
Objective III: Manage internal processes to successfully implement work programme
Activities
6. Overall governance by AAE SC
(general management, governance, M&E, 2 SC/staff meetings [Belgrade, Amsterdam], 7 conference calls [SC Chair from Belarus reimbursed as external expert to attend staff meetings & for overall supervision])
7. Implement, M&E of work programme
(staff & Chair SC meetings; quarterly progress reports; annual report)
8. Network communications
(website; e-news alerts; (e)mailings; leaflet/promo materials; events; social media networking (internship), photoshoot (external expert)
9.Fundraising & donor management
(manage donor relations & portfolio, acquisition & reporting, work on sustainability/diversity
Outcomes:
- Work programme 2013 implemented as planned (I: 2 SC meeting reports; minutes 7 teleconferences; 95% work done; 2012 annual report online; staff progress reports)
- Increased visibility & strengthened connection with network (I: 520 members, 2000 monthly web visits, 50% return visits, 300 followers on twitter, 600 facebook fans, lively interaction through social media, database visual materials)
- Secured funding for present work programme and increased sustainability long term (I: higher no, diversity + total amount of sponsors)