Working with civil society to support the national response to HIV and AIDS: experiences from Zambia

Terri Collins, Alex Simwanza and Mwilu Mumbi, 2009

Civil society is regarded as a key sector in national HIV responses. It can often achieve results in areas inaccessible to government and can act as an important service provider for interventions relating to HIV prevention and impact mitigation. It also ensures the perspectives of non-state actors are heard and promotes full country ownership.

Although international guidelines have been developed to support community and civil society involvement in national responses, there is little practical guidance on how National AIDS Coordinating Authorities can work with civil society partners.

This paper presents the working model to engage civil society developed by the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council Zambia in collaboration with the Strengthening the AIDS Response Zambia (STARZ) programme. The working model sits within a capacity development framework and is intended to assist practitioners in better defining the desired outcomes of work with civil society, and help them apply concepts such as consultation, participation and involvement.

Produced as part of the Strengthening the AIDS Response Zambia (STARZ) programme.