CARICOM is scaling up the response of the youth sector to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic. In establishing what is described as an Inter-Agency Coordinating Mechanism, the regional institution hopes to streamline and combine human, technical, financial and other resources aiming to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS among young people.

At a recently completed Meeting in Jamaica, the Inter-Agency engine on Youth and HIV/AIDS identified mechanisms for cooperation, expanded an existing PANCAP Priority area 3 work plan on youth and AIDS to include capacity building, networking and youth participation strategies and youth development priorities.

The process for identifying the modalities for implementing and managing a collaborative youth agenda began in 2002 in response to a COHSOD (Council of Social and Human Development) Mandate and has, so far, included elements of stakeholder consultation, research and policy identification.

The two-day meeting saw the creation of an expanded Priority area 3 work plan, identified areas for future agency collaboration and clarification of the roles and responsibilities of lead and support agencies in the collaborative approach to Youth and AIDS.

A directory of priorities, programmes and resources of Agencies and institutions involved in youth development work has already been identified and will become the basis for harmonizing and coordinating the delivery of Regional youth and AIDS programmes.

Agencies involved in the collaboration include GTZ, Red Cross, various UN Agencies, Ministries of youth, sports and culture, Youth Non-Governmental Organisations and donors. Additionally, within the CARICOM Secretariat there already exists close collaboration with the Pan Caribbean Partnership (PANCAP) on AIDS/HIV, the Health Sector Development, Education and Youth Sub-Programme.