Taking action today - the HEWG
HIV and AIDS is both a shock and long wave event. Ignoring it is perilous because the effects are not always visible at one point in time. Effects are already occurring and in time will become more evident but at a point where the effort required to deal with it would be huge.
The present time is opportune to address HIV and AIDS and environment linkages for both objective and strategic reasons. Lag time from infection to documentation of impacts has become evident for morbidity impacts (up to 5 years), mortality impacts (6-7 years) and turnover costs (7-8 years). The severity of impacts has already reached a critical mass that is too large to continue with the current uncoordinated response. HIV has ceased to be a personal concern of employees and their families, and is now considered a significant financial drain on core budgets and capacity.
The HIV and AIDS-Environment Working Group is working to catalyze actions today. The HEWG:

• Targets HIV and AIDS-environment linkages at institutional and local levels;
• Increases understanding of the complexity of HIV and AIDS-environment linkages;
• Catalyses, supports and implements effective activities to ensure progress;
• Maximizes linkages with existing government policy and local interventions;
• Works at the regional scale to maximize impact.

A major role of the HEWG is to coordinate a strong Monitoring and Evaluation system which draws on and strengthens the existing systems of its partners. The Working Group sees its role not so much as a project implementer but as an advocate and catalyst for its partners to engage on this topic and as a "node" for coordination and information dissemination on HIV and AIDS-environment linkages.
Scan of partners in action
The HEWG is building a growing network of members who contribute to its mission.
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) represents the front lines of monitoring and enforcement for environmental protection in Namibia. Through the HEWG, MET can ensure that HIV prevention issues are strongly integrated into its ongoing activities and build partnerships with the health sector through its infrastructure of parks throughout the country's most remote rural areas. The MET has also recently been chosen to be the sectoral leader to help mainstream HIV and AIDS programmes into the core work of environmental agencies.
The Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) is a non-governmental organization that plays a leading role in the country's environmental sector. The organization's aims are to promote sustainable development, the conservation of biological diversity and natural ecosystems, and the wise and ethical use of natural resources for the benefit of all Namibians, both present and future.
The Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organizations (NACSO) is an association of 12 Community-Based Natural Resource Management service organizations including 11 NGOs and the University of Namibia. NACSO chairs a member-based HIV and AIDS Working Group and has developed HIV and AIDS policy guidelines in the conservation sector. Its interventions target non-governmental organisations in the conservation sector and conservancies. NACSO's leading edge experience in implementing linked HIV-environment approaches are invaluable input to the HEWG.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is a government agency that is responsible to provide primary health services to the Namibian population, including HIV prevention and treatment capability for the country. The Ministry has adopted the National AIDS Control Programme to ensure effective control and prevention of the spread of the virus causing AIDS. The MoHSS provides the vital link between available and needs orientated health facilities and services around the country, that will be crucial for the HEWG's implementation strategy.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) coordinates technical cooperation among projects aimed at national development in Namibia. It also connects countries development efforts in order to better utilize knowledge, experiences and mobilize resources. The UNDP Namibia Country Office is the implementing agency for the MET's Strengthening the Protected Area Network (SPAN) Project, and has been a co-financer for HEWG activities in the preparatory phase.
UNAIDS the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS has representation in Namibia where it brings together the efforts and resources of other UN system organizations to the global AIDS response. UNAIDS is a vital member of the HEWG as they provide crucial global "lessons learned" case studies and have ready access to funding for project components