FACT SHEET

The World Bank
Romania Office
Europe and Central Asia Region

World Bank Update on HIV/AIDS Control in Europe and Central Asia

As many as 2 million people are HIV positive, with 1 million in Russia

Human and economic costs. The Europe and Central Asia region(ECA) is experiencing the fastest-growing epidemic of any region in the world. According to UNAIDS, in 2004, the number of people living with the virus in the Region rose to an estimated 1.4 million. AIDS claimed an estimated 60,000 lives and some 210,000 people were newly infected. With a generalized epidemic (prevalence over 1%), annual economic growth rates could decline by 0.5 to 1.0 percentage points. In addition, health expenditures could increase by 1-3 percent.

Among the diverse epidemics under way in ECA, the most serious is in Ukraine, while Russia is home to the largest epidemic in the region and in all of Europe [the range of people living with HIV in Russia is 420,000-1.4 million]. Several Central Asian and Caucasian republics are in the early phases of the epidemic, while in South East Europe, HIV has possibly gained a foothold among high risk groups, particularly youth and injecting drug users.

Putting HIV/AIDS on the economic development agenda.By integrating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis control strategies into national development agendas, the Bank is supporting country-led responses. The Bank is partnering with UNAIDS, bilateral agencies and civil society groups to improve the knowledge base for HIV/AIDS and TB work and catalyze a region-wide response to the dual epidemic.

Strategic advice and networking. On the non-lending side, a range of analytical work is being undertaken. In 2003, the Bank published a Regional Support Strategy “Averting AIDS Crises in Eastern Europe and Central Asia”, as well as sub-regional studies on Poland and the Baltics, Southeastern Europe, and Central Asia; a policy note on Georgia; and a study of the economic impact of AIDS in the Russian Federation. The Bank co-financed with UNAIDS a Directory of Technical and Managerial resources to improve access to technical advice for AIDS programs in ECA ( Work is underway on a Western Balkans HIV/AIDS Study. Work has begun to calculate the economic cost of AIDS for other ECA countries as well, including in Ukraine and Central Asia. Efforts to share best practice experience and network with governments, medical experts, the private sector and nongovernmental groups are expanding.

Project support in ECA projects. Several country programs on HIV/AIDS and TB control are financed by the Bank. They include Bank-financed projects are focused on HIV/AIDS and/or TB control. They includea US$60 million Ukraine Tuberculosis and AIDS Project, approved in December 2002; the US$150 million Russian Federation Tuberculosis and AIDS Control Project, approved in April 2003, and the US$5.5 million Moldova AIDS Control Project, an IDA grant, approved in June 2003. Work is under way on a regional Central Asia AIDS Control Project.

World Bank’s HIV/AIDS assistance in Romania.

The Project Management Unit established in the Ministry of Health to coordinate World Bank financed operations has been assigned in 2003 to manage also a US$38 million grant (of which 21.8 million for HIV/AIDS related activities) to Romania from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This approach is regarded as best practice in the Region for the use of institutional capacity developed in World Bank financed operations to manage projects supported by other financiers.

The Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation in partnership with Government agencies is currently implementing a project aiming to prevent transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases from mother to child by providing to family doctors training, information and technology they need to offer adequate care to pregnant women. This project is supported by a US$159 thousand grant from the 2003 round of the Development Marketplace initiative of the World Bank.

The World Bank also provided financial assistance for HIV/AIDS through the Small Grants Program, as follows:

  • In 1998, the Romanian Anti-AIDS Association (ARAS) implemented a public education program aimed to promote the acceptance of HIV infected children in schools. In 2003, the same organization undertook an advocacy campaign, “Together for the Community”, for accessing government funds.
  • In 2003, the National Union of HIV/AIDS Infected Persons (UNOPA) implemented a project focused on institutional strengthening for its members, by providing information on legislation, financing opportunities, updates on methodologies or counseling.

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For more information on the World Bank’s work in Romania, visit

For more information on the World Bank’s program on HIV/AIDS control in ECA, please visit: Advice. On the non-lending side, a range of analytical work is being undertaken. In 2003, several studies were drafted, including a Regional Support Strategy “Averting AIDS Crises in Eastern Europe and Central Asia”; regional studies in Poland and the Baltics, Southeastern Europe, and Central Asia; a policy note on Georgia; and a study of the economic impact of AIDS in the Russian Federation. The Bank co-financed with UNAIDS a Directory of Technical and Managerial resources to improve access to technical advice for AIDS programs in ECA (). Work is underway on a Western Balkans HIV/AIDS Study.

Information on World Bank and partner activities to fight AIDS in ECA can also be found at the International AIDS Economic Network’s regional site: