Democratic governance is “a process of creating and sustaining an environment for inclusive and responsive political processes and settlements.” The institutional and human capacities for governance determine the way in which the effectiveness of public policies and strategies are attained, especially in service delivery.
Experience to date with the Millennium Development Goals has shown that, in many cases, sustained progress towards the MDGs has been underpinned by good governance and women’s empowerment, and hampered by their absence.
Sustainable advances in health and development are dependent on progress in other areas of development. For example promoting human rights and strengthening laws that eliminate discrimination against people living with HIV and groups that are at highest risk of HIV, will ensure that these communities are not driven underground, but are able to access health care and other basic services.
Achieving universal access to ART and other essential medicines requires continued innovation in the development of new drugs and diagnostics. It is therefore imperative to ensure that within the context of the TRIPS Agreement, the policy incoherence between research/innovation, public health and human rights is remedied.
Low- and middle-income countries carry the burden of the world’s largest killers, non-communicable diseases (NCD). These could be prevented if policy makers and health systems responded effectively and equitably to the needs of people with NCDs.
Related resources:
- Strategy Note on promoting effective and inclusive governance for HIV and health
- Global Commission on HIV and the Law
Proposed guiding questions
- How can we best promote resilient, legitimate and inclusive national and local institutions, as well as inclusive participation in public processes in the context of HIV and health? What will make institutions more effective in order to achieve equity, transparency and accountability in the context of HIV and health?
- What contributions can UNDP make to strengthening inclusive and effective governance for HIV and health?
