In recent years, due to the continuous global economic crisis, increased demand on limited international development funds, economic growth in countries previously classified as low income and some other factors, there has been a notable decrease in the availability of funds from international and bilateral donors, including the Global Fund, to support health responses in middle income countries (MICs) including those in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA).

In this context many countries are shifting away from a reliance on international funding for their public health responses towards more sustainable domestically-funded programs. But as in many cases the key HIV interventions have primarily been implemented by civil society and funded by donor funds – relevant funding mechanisms are required to be in place to allow civil society organizations to receive governmental funding and work in partnership with government and other stakeholders on service planning, delivery and evaluation. Donors, technical and other partners should support countries to develop social contracting mechanisms to overcome obstacles and amplify enablers to support the sustainability of civil society-led service delivery.

EHRA is aimed to contribute to the relevant processes in EECA region to ensure the governmental funding for harm reduction services could be accessible for NGOs through effective financing mechanisms.