The European HIV/AIDS Funders Group’ (EHFG) was established in June 2002 as a knowledge-based network dedicated to strengthening European philanthropy in the field of HIV/AIDS. The eight-member group[1] aims to mobilize philanthropic leadership and resources to address the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and its social and economic consequences, both through promoting enhanced networking, information exchange and cooperation among existing funders and by encouraging new funders to enter the field.

Interest in establishing such a group arose during the 13th European Foundation Centre annual conference in 2002, where the German Foundation for World Population (DSW) organized a session on HIV/AIDS with the aim of mobilizing support for this field among European foundations. Response to the session was positive, reflecting a growing desire among European funders to work together to increase their knowledge of current initiatives and best practices and to improve the effectiveness of their grantmaking in HIV/AIDS.

The group is currently undertaking a mapping exercise to identify other European foundations and corporates interested in or already working on HIV/AIDS in order to increase support for this field.[2] After organizing a session at the EFC 14th annual conference in 2003, the group agreed to establish a fund for HIV/AIDS and convene a policy meeting, which will be held in Brussels in the autumn. A website is currently being established to increase the visibility of the group and consolidate its communications.

1 The current members of the European HIV/AIDS Funders Group are: Allavida, Association François-Xavier Bagnoud, Bernard van Leer Foundation, Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung, DSW – German Foundation for World Population, Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, King Baudouin Foundation, the Nuffield Trust, the Open Society Institute.

2 This will be funded by UNAIDS.

For more information
Contact Jennifer Miquel at DSW at Jennifer.miquel@dsw-hannover.de or visit http://www.efc.be/projects/aids/