Prime Minister’s Office
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sector
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When ?
With whom ?
Connecting UNICEF’s strategy on HIV AIDS with a communication strategy
Sector?
HIV AIDS; Child Rights
What?
Strategic Planning; Strategic Communication
Where?
Malaysia
Why?
For many years UNICEF had partnered with the Government of Malaysia to deliver numerous and effective grassroots initiatives. With the rapid strides Malaysia made in development and achieved a middle-income country status, it was felt that UNICEF could advance the well being of children in Malaysia more effectively by becoming an upstream partner of the government. UNICEF’s then executive director Carol Bellamy had hand picked the dynamic CEO of UNICEF Australia Gaye Phillips to set in a Malaysia a model of engagement with middle-income countries.
When?
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
What exactly?
In 2005, UNICEF’s Representative appointed me to link the organization’s HIV AIDS programs to a meaningful communication strategy.
In addition to developing a comprehensive strategy on up-streaming UNICEF’s HIV AIDS program in Malaysia, key Strategic Communication products were developed:
- Video documentary- “Women in AIDS”: Conceptualized this video documentary to celebrate and document the contribution of women from various walks of life in the fight against HIV AIDS in Malaysia. This video galvanized support from the Govt. of Malaysia and the donor community for UNICEF’s HIV AIDS program.
- Video documentaries- Conceptualized video documentaries on joint projects of UNICEF & Ministry of Health that reflect the impact of good partnerships. These included the video capsules on ProStar Youth Initiative (Peer counseling), Village Health Promoters and Youth & Drugs. Youth volunteers for UNICEF in Malaysia filmed the films.
- Launch of UNICEF’s global campaign- “Unite for Children Unite Against AIDS” in Malaysia: After the global campaign against polio in the 70s, this is UNICEF’s biggest global campaign. Sunoor Verma co-conceptualized the Malaysia launch of this campaign in partnership with the Ministry of Health.
- High Profile Events: Conceptualized the launch of UNICEF’s Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Award in Malaysia. A top-level corporate event, it brought in valuable support for UNICEF’s programs in Malaysia from the corporate sector.
With- whom?
UNICEF
Prime Minister’s Office,Economic Planning Unit, Malaysia
Minister of Health
Attorney General of Malaysia
Minister of Women and Community Development
What happened?
UNICEF became the partner of choice of the Malaysian government on HIV AIDS
“ He has demonstrated his problem solving skills and emphasizes the need to back up words with action, and the need to engage in solutions that are forward-looking. ”
Michael Szporluk
Expert, Civil Society Development
Mercy Corps
Up-streaming UNICEF’s HIV AIDS portfolio in Malaysia
Sector?
HIV AIDS; Child rights; Women
What?
Strategic partnerships; Strategic communication; Dialogue management;
Where?
Malaysia
Why?
UNICEF has enjoyed a longstanding fruitful partnership with the Government of Malaysia. However with Malaysia graduating into a fast developing middle-income country it was felt that UNICEF could support the government better by becoming a policy partner. Countering HIV AIDS was one of the two MDGs that were eluding Malaysia. UNICEF felt that it could add value to the efforts of the government in that area.
When?
2005
What exactly?
Identifying key areas of support required by the Ministry of Health of Malaysia to address HIV AIDS & children & Youth in Malaysia. Key components of this support involved
- Identification of potential partners and analysis of their capacity & risk
- High level negotiations and building of strategic partnership with government and civil society representatives.
- Policy analysis and advise on partnerships, HIV AIDS.
- Development of project portfolio on HIV/ AIDS.
With- whom?
UNICEF
Prime Minister’s Office, Malaysia
Ministry of Health, Malaysia
Institute of Health Management, Malaysia
Ministry of Women and Community Development, Malaysia
What happened?
UNICEF became a close partner of the Malaysian government in addressing HIV AIDS through policy interventions.
“ I believe Sunoor Verma is well apt to mediate in conflicts, as he comes across as straightforward and trustworthy, calm and with a good listening ear. ”
Ulrika Lindberg-Labasauskas
Head of Development Cooperation
Embassy of Sweden in Skopje
National Strategic plan for HIV AIDS 2005- 20010 in Malaysia
Sector?
HIV AIDS; Women; Child rights
What?
Strategic Planning; Strategic Partnerships; Dialogue Management; Strategic Communications
Where?
Malaysia
Why?
It was clear that Malaysia could not address HIV AIDS effectively without a national strategy in place. In turn for the National Strategy to be effective it needed to not only be a consensus document but also collaborative arrangements of implementation would need to be foreseen in the concept and planning. The HIV AIDS landscape in Malaysia as in many other countries was deeply fragmented and finding ways to bridge the fissures required the support of a party like UNICEF, which had a stake in addressing the issue but not in the power play that happens in every country when it comes to HIV AIDS.
When?
2005, 2006
What exactly?
The UNICEF Representative in Malaysia Gaye Phillips tasked me to come up with a strategy on bringing the movers and shakers in the HIV AIDS arena and find entry points to engage with them. I conducted a rapid nationwide mapping exercise meeting with key players and understanding their perspectives. This helped create common grounds to launch a consensus process for drafting the national strategic plan. I supervised the work of consultants brought in to support specific technical inputs and worked as one team with the HIV AIDS division of the Ministry of Health.
Adopting the first national strategic plan was a huge success for Malaysia because it paved the way for a fully budgeted HIV AIDS program to be launched by the government. The plan also provided a platform for collaboration between government, civil society and the private sector.
While UNICEF’s Representative ensured that there was strong political backing for UNICEF’s support to the process and to my services being made available, the intelligence and expertise of Indra Nadchatram were unmatched. With Gaye, Indra and our Malaysian counterparts we worked around the clock with a sense of urgency of the epidemic.
With- whom?
UNICEF
Ministry of Health, Malaysia
Prime Ministers Office, Malaysia
What happened?
Malaysia’s first National Strategic Plan (2005-2010) was adopted, budgeted and implemented.
“ Many people working in development use the experience from different settings as a blinding tool — they think they know much more than they do — Dr Verma never lets his experience blind him from seeing things afresh. Rare!!! ”
Annika Palo
Adviser, Department for Europe
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sweden