A synthesis of institutional arrangements of twelve National AIDS Councils in sub-Saharan Africa

E. Serlemitsos with J. Mundy, C. Dickinson and J. Whitelaw-Jones, 2009. Produced by the Strengthening the AIDS Response Zambia (STARZ) programme.

In 2008, the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council (NAC) Zambia was under pressure to review its institutional position under the Ministry of Health. It therefore decided to commission an assessment of institutional arrangements of up to 12 NACs in the region. The assessment was conducted by HLSP under the auspices of the Strengthening the AIDS Response Zambia (STARZ) programme. Countries reviewed included Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The resulting paper was based on a process of literature reviews and informant interviews with agency-based and NAC staff and independent consultants familiar with NAC issues. Common features and emerging themes were identified through analysis of country-specific data. The paper concluded that the effectiveness of NACs was strongly influenced by the personalities of those in senior management positions. It also noted that many NACs were adapting their functions to better suit their local circumstances.

This paper is a synthesis of that review and findings.