1. To support the development of evidence based HIV and AIDS strategies targeting the vulnerable populations in the GLIA member countries
2. To act as a catalyst for providing HIV and AIDS services to the selected vulnerable populations n the GLIA countries
3. To generate and disseminate information on HIV epidemic among the selected vulnerable populations in the six GLIA countries
4. To strengthen capacity of GLIA to effectively achieve its strategic objectives

• The Executive Secretariat of GLIA has been established with an adequate number of staff; it is located in Kigali, Rwanda.
• GLIA conducted several studies to form a basis for conceptualising its interventions
• It developed an M&E system including M&E plans, tools and reporting protocols
• It supported several programmes addressing specific factors of vulnerability.
• It supported the NACCs in each of the six countries and implementing partners to provide HIV and AIDS services to its beneficiaries
• It supported the process of harmonising protocols on HIV and AIDS across the GLIA member countries.

• GLIA Council of Ministers (GLIA – CoM):
  The Council consists of Ministers in Charge of HIV and AIDS in the GLIA member states; it is the supreme governance organ of GLIA responsible for providing overall policy direction to the organisation.
• The Executive Committee (GLIA – EC):
  The Committee comprises Chief Executive Officers of the National AIDS Coordinative Commissions (NACCs) in the GLIA member states and provides quality insurance for implementation of overall GLIA activities.
• The Executive Secretariat (GLIA – ES):
  The Secretariat is the body that coordinates programme management and implementation.
• GLIA Focal Points (GLIA - FPs):
  Drawn from NACCs, they link GLIA to the national HIV and AIDS responses and ensure effective implementation of GLIA activities at country level.
• Partnership Consultative Group:
  This group acts as an advisory body to the Council of Ministers.

Mission

GLIA mandate is to contribute to the reduction of new HIV infections and mitigate the socio-economic impact of HIV and AIDS in the Great Lakes Region by developing regional collaboration and implementing interventions that can add value to the efforts of each individual country.

Principles

• All State-Parties take equal ownership of GLIA, be committed to it, and make it an integral part of their respective HIV and AIDS strategic plans
• Ensure full participation of PLWHA
• Guarantee respect for human rights, gender and cultural sensitivity
• Ensure procedures and mechanisms relating to integrity, transparency and accountability of GLIA actions are in respected
• Take into account the need for national representation and diversity of the State- Parties in the recruitment of GLIA personnell

GLIA has adopted a three pronged strategy in addressing vulnerability to HIV among mobile and cross border sub populations.

• First, GLIA will develop further the understanding of vulnerability factors and their contribution to HIV epidemic in the region.
• Second, it will catalyse learning on how countries are addressing vulnerability in the region.
• Third, GLIA will broker the collaboration between agencies best able to resolve cross border HIV issues.

Vision

GLIA acts in pursuit of an AIDS free society within the Great Lakes Region

GLIA Strategic Goal

To contribute to the preventio of new HIV infections and improvement of the quality of life of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) among the selected vulnerable populations in the Great Lakes Region.

The Great Lakes Initiative on AIDS (GLIA) is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1998 and formally established in 2004 following the signing of the GLIA convention by Ministers in charge of HIV and AIDS in the six member states. The convention was ratified in 2005 by cabinets and parliaments in the six countries. The member states of GLIA include Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.