Summary

Research Report: Examines the experience of eight AusAID-supported projects that incorporated HIV/AIDS initiatives.

Description

Author: Ian Patrick, Ian Patrick & Associates Pty Ltd

This study was commissioned to inform the development of AusAID's new program of HIV/AIDS assistance to Papua New Guinea. It examines the experience of eight AusAID-supported projects that incorporated HIV/AIDS initiatives. On the basis of this experience, the study identifies areas of further development in order to consolidate a mainstreaming approach within AusAID assistance operating across multiple sectors.

The projects reviewed were located with government agencies in the law and justice, health, education, infrastructure and renewable resources sectors. In most cases, HIV/AIDS elements formed part of a broader project and involved elements such as building staff awareness, training and curriculum development.

This approach, which focuses on integration of HIV/AIDS elements into existing corporate activities differs from mainstreaming which essentially involves reorientating an organisation's core business to address causes and consequences of the epidemic with an organisation's area of comparative advantage.

Drawing on the international literature, the study identifies principles of good practice in mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS and uses this as a framework to assess and compare project experience. While all of the projects were considered to have made useful contributions to addressing HIV/AIDS, areas for further consolidation under a mainstreaming approach were identified.

These include locating and supporting mainstreaming within national plans for HIV/AIDS in PNG; developing a more strategic approach to HIV/AIDS planning within sectors and their constituent organisations; extending the focus of HIV/AIDS initiatives beyond the internal organisational domain, such as through staff training to address external issues especially with clients and beneficiaries; and to more substantially address issues of gender, participation and sustainability within initiatives mounted.

Review of AusAID Multisectoral HIV Initiatives in Papua New Guinea [PDF 294KB]

Available: Electronic version only

This report was commissioned by AusAID. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of AusAID or the Australian Government.

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