A meeting on civil society strengthening in the global health and HIV/AIDS response was held in Amsterdam in September 2008. Conceptualized and organized by the Communications Facility for the UNAIDS PCB NGO Delegation and International Civil Society Support (ICSS), the meeting was structured in part as a joint retreat for members of civil society delegations to international organizations working on health care policy and access, including the following: the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), the GAVI Alliance, UNITAID and the International Health Partnership and Related Initiatives (IHP+).

These institutions differ in structure, focus and size, but all are notable in the field for including civil society representation in some institutional governance structures. All also have significant influence on efforts to expand access to health and HIV-related services around the world.

More than 20 individuals with current or recent responsibilities as civil society representatives - nearly all as Board members, Alternate Board members, Communications Focal Points (CFPs) or delegates - attended the meeting. It was the first time this diverse group of representatives came together to discuss common objectives and joint strategies. Also in attendance were support staff and two health care analysts who delivered special presentations.

Key objectives of the meeting
The primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways to develop a more strategic approach to working together as civil society. The perceived need was based on the following core assumptions:

·       improved coordination and communication mechanisms among and within organized civil society delegations could boost civil society’s ability to influence policy at international, regional and national levels;

·       identification of common objectives could help leverage greater and more sustainable resources for civil society organisations providing direct service delivery at the national/local level; and

·       representatives’ accountability to their respective communities, most notably individuals living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, could be enhanced through the development of a consistent, sector-wide understanding of what it means to properly and effectively serve their constituents. Mechanisms to ensure greater accountability and transparency are therefore necessary.

A planning team consisting of one representative from each participating body prepared the meeting agenda. This method was used to ensure that the issues and priorities identified by the participants, not the organizers or facilitators, would and should take precedence.

The meeting was sponsored by Aids Fonds Netherlands and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is part of the Free Space Process.