History

The HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee (HACC) in Cambodia was initiated by World Vision Cambodia (WVC) in 1992. (Source: Annual Development Review 2001, World Vision Cambodia).
HACC was established by Dr. Gill Zari from WVI-C in 1993 as an information-sharing forum and experiences from the field among its members, and as a forum to coordinate the activities of NGOs working on HIV/AIDS in Cambodia.
HACC was at that time formed by a group of foreigners working in different organizations where HIV/AIDS projects were implemented. The groups voluntarily formed and met together in a form of forum to share information and to coordinate HIV/AIDS projects in Cambodia.
A Steering Committee of HACC had been formed and the Terms of Reference of the Steering Committee was produced and finalized in June 1995. The Steering Committee had established three working groups. The first is the counseling, care and support working group. The second working group addresses training issues and the third one addresses IEC and media issues. The main purpose of each group is sharing lessons learned. The Steering Committee was consisted of members from WVI-C, UNKS, QSA, PSI, and CRC.
Selection of HACC Steering Committee chair and secretary was initiated in October 1995. The chairperson was selected to chair the monthly forum and to coordinate the works of HACC members. The term of the Steering Committee chair and secretary lasted for only a year.

A secretary was elected in December 1995 and Mr. Bill Mackie, PSI Manager agreed to pay a volunteer working as a secretary of HACC. The roles and responsibilities of the secretary are presented in Annex 2.
In 1996 HACC members discussed issues regarding “Developing Strategic Directions within NGOs Community.” The result of the discussion is presented in Annex 3.
In 1996, Mrs. Young Setha was the chairperson of HACC Steering Committee. The Steering Committee was then consisted of 5 working groups: Training WG, Counseling WG, Research WG, Mass Media WG, and Special Events WG. These groups worked to find out the effective methodologies for HIV/AIDS in various sectors.
In 1996, the Steering Committee decided to arrange a campaign on HIV/AIDS for one week during the National Water Festival and World AIDS Day from November 25th to December 1st, 1996. A Task Force Group for the campaign was formed to organize the campaign.
In 1997, HACC elected a new Steering Committee. The chair of the Steering Committee was Juana Encalada from Maryknoll, secretary – Chea Moneth from HKDA and the other three members were: Chun Bora from SCF(UK), Am Vichet from WVI-C and Kasen Kolnary from QSA. The term of this Steering Committee lasted from January 1997 to December 1997.
The membership fee for joining HACC started in May 1997. Each NGO had to pay USD40.00 per year. In early 1998 the membership fee policy had changed. The fee for International NGOs was USD40.00 and Local NGOs was USD20.00. HACC conducted the second HIV/AIDS campaign in November and December 1997 during the Water Festival and World AIDS Day. The same Task Force Group of year 1996 was formed again to organize the campaign. The Steering Committee was reelected in January 1998. The chairperson of HACC Steering Committee was then Dr. Oum Sopheap from WVI-C, and the other members of the Steering Committee were SCF (UK), QSA, CRC and Maryknoll. The last one accepted the secretary role.

On March 30 to 31, the National AIDS Program (NAP) organized the First Conference of HIV/AIDS in Cambodia. HACC was responsible for organizing the exposition for the conference.
In January 1999 the new Steering Committee was elected. The chairperson was Dr. Oum Sopheap from WVI-C, the secretary was from SCF(UK) and the supported members of the committee were from CRC, QSA and Maryknoll. The membership fee for that year was US$60.00 for INGOs and US$30.00 for local NGOs. HACC had 17 members from INGOs (including UN organizations like UNAIDS and UNICEF) and 17 members from local NGOs.

In 1999, Dr. Oum Sopheap initiated an idea of employing a full time staff and then in October 1999, HACC employed its first staff, Mr. Seng Sopheap, secretary of HACC, to take over coordination and communication between members, as the committee members were occupied with their own professional responsibilities. World Vision International (WVI) provided funds for an office and for administrative costs. One of HACC's roles is responding to inquires from other NGOs regarding counseling, home care, and people living with AIDS.
In recent years, HACC which is a network consisting of some 90 (65% local NGOs, 25% INGOs) local and international NGOs working in the HIV/AIDS sector in Cambodia has become a strong network of HIV/AIDS organisations, due mainly to the motivation and commitment of its members. It is now recognised as the major NGO coordinating body working on HIV/AIDS in Cambodia.
HACC has grown to become an important instrument in facilitating both HIV/AIDS prevention and care in rural areas of Cambodia. It has also successfully taken on the role of representing NGOs at government and United Nation forums, the purpose of which is to share information and to advocate change.

It has made significant contributions towards a national response towards preventing the spread of HIV, providing care and support for the people already infected, and affected by AIDS, and minimising the impact of the disease.
HACC is managed by a voluntary, elected steering committee of seven members, which is structured into four separate working groups, including: Training, Counselling, Care, and Support, Mass Media/ Advocacy and Special Event Task Force.
Each working group elects its own Coordinator and Vice-Coordinator for two-year terms.
The HACC office is headed by a Co-ordinator, whose role is to liaise with the steering committee and manage day-to-day office activities. The Co-ordinator is supported by an Administration and Finance Officer, Program Officers and several volunteer staff.

All people in Cambodia live in an HIV/AIDS resilient society where there is a strong network to support the continuum of HIV/AIDS prevention, care/support, treatment and impact alleviation.

Main Activities

1. HACC provides opportunities for networking among members and networks on behalf of members with other networks, Government, international donors and the UN
2. HACC cooperates with members to coordinate the NGO response to HIV and AIDS at national and provincial level
3. HACC promotes communication and the sharing of information among members and between all those involved in the HIV and AIDS response in Cambodia (and internationally)
4. HACC raises awareness of HIV and AIDS and gaps in the response
5. HACC represents NGOs responding to HIV and AIDS at national and international forums where they have received a mandate from their members to do so
6. Advocates for the full involvement of civil society in determining policy, setting national targets, developing plans and monitoring progress in relation  to HIV and AIDS

Goals

Organization Chart