AFRO-NETS> Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS: A Conceptual Framework and Implementing Principles

[Dieter Neuvians MD <neuvians@mweb.co.za>]

Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS: A Conceptual Framework and Implementing Principles
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By JSA Consultants Ltd. & GTZ Regional AIDS Programme 
Accra, Ghana, June 2002

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While the concept of mainstreaming has been with us for decades, its 
application to the area of HIV/AIDS is more recent and represents 
somewhat uncharted waters. Mainstreaming, within this context, is an 
essential approach for expanding multi-sectoral responses to 
HIV/AIDS. Mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS is not an intervention per se. It 
constitutes a range of practical strategies for scaling up responses 
and addressing the developmental impacts of HIV and AIDS globally and 
regionally. Through mainstreaming, government sectors, NGOs, private 
sector entities, church organisations, etc., can both meet the needs 
of their own workplace environment, as well as apply their compara-
tive advantage to support specific aspects of national HIV/AIDS re-
sponses. 

As with other approaches to this fast paced epidemic, understanding 
of mainstreaming is still evolving. This document tentatively ex-
plores the current understanding of the concept and examples of rele-
vant experience. It provides a set of basic principles designed to 
enable those working at the different levels and aspects of HIV/AIDS 
policy and practice to begin using mainstreaming processes for expan-
sion and acceleration of HIV/AIDS responses.

Based on global, national, sector and sub-national experiences with 
mainstreaming HIV/AIDS across Africa, the systematic approach pro-
vided in this document shows that the conceptual and practical under-
standing of mainstreaming, combined with the lessons learnt from con-
crete experiences, allow to make progress. Thus, the approach pro-
vides a mechanism through which multi-sectoral responses to HIV and 
AIDS can be analysed and acted upon, within clear areas of responsi-
bility, building up multi-level yet coherent interventions to 
strengthen international, national and sub-national responses.

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