AFRO-NETS> New Book: Strategic & planning concepts India's response to HIV/AIDS

[Rajendra Jani <saral@saralindia.org>]

New Book: Strategic & planning concepts India's response to HIV/AIDS
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Dear All,
 
I am enclosing the summary of a book on "Strategic & planning 
concepts India's response to HIV/AIDS". I believe concepts in the 
book in the area of policy & strategy based initiatives might be 
of some interest to you. Will appreciate if you could -:
 
1) Send us your comments prior to its printing;
2) Share with us any ideas you may have on raising the resources
   for printing & publishing the book;
3) Forward the manuscript to other interested stakeholders with
   the same requests.
 
 
Many thanks for your interest, time & efforts.
 
Rajendra Jani
mailto:saral@saralindia.org
 
 
--
SUMMARY OF THE BOOK
 
This book presents application of management science principles & 
techniques in developing appropriate HIV response in India. It is 
based on Indian experience though most of the concepts are con-
siderably broad based enough to be applied elsewhere too.
 
The book aims to enhance the overall effectiveness of HIV re-
sponse in India through a systemic application of strategic & 
planning concepts. Significant numbers of the con-
cepts/strategies/frameworks articulated in the book have been ap-
plied wherever opportunities have existed & the environment has 
been conducive. Some like strategic planning framework are yet to 
be applied.
 
The book will be relevant & useful to all those interested in 
joining the battle against HIV/AIDS. Policy influencers, decision 
makers & project managers all will find something relevant in the 
book with direct applicability. Thus, the book is targeted at do-
nors, State AIDS control societies, NGOs & all other stakeholders 
participating in India's response to HIV.
 
HIV has now been acknowledged as a multi dimensional issue of the 
society now, but application of management sciences principles 
has remained less than desired. The book is a modest aim at fill-
ing this gap.
 
HIV was articulated as one of the four major challenges facing 
India currently in a recent India Conclave meet. With an estimate 
of four million cases, HIV is unfolding as a complex socio-econo-
legal- ethical-management-medical phenomenon in India. India with 
its vast population, wide canvass of differing cultures & lan-
guages, social norms & taboos surrounding sexual health, make HIV 
a unique challenge requiring holistic & multifaceted response.
 
There have been many advances and improvements in HIV prevention 
efforts in India over the last decade. Many donors are partici-
pating in a nation wide programme of AIDS Control (NACP-2), NACO 
has decentralized the programme to various State & city AIDS Con-
trol Societies. And yet, much more remains to be done.
 
"Targeted Interventions" is a major component for HIV prevention 
consuming about 25-30% of the total budget for HIV prevention. It 
is now very much recognized that NGOs & CBOs are an effective & 
necessary interface between the Governments & target groups. At 
present there are about 730 targeted interventions in India.
 
The book is divided in to three sections of concepts relevant at 
national, state & project levels. In reality, some of this over-
lap and the classification in to the three sections is mainly for 
ease of presentation.
 
Section-A
 
Deals with concepts & frameworks useful & relevant for national 
level planning & strategizing. There are two chapters here.
 
Chapter-1 provides a conceptual framework for developing a holis-
tic & multi faceted HIV response & pegs current efforts of India. 
It argues for broadening current response spectrum of India.
 
Chapter-2 develops a strategic planning framework for planning, 
priorizing, mainstreaming & targeting optimal HIV response at na-
tional level.
 
Section-B
 
Deals with concepts relevant at State level & comprises of four 
chapters.
 
Chapter-3 presents an argument for broad mind intervention de-
signs for HIV/AIDS & presents several innovative design philoso-
phies. The suggested supplementary design methods facilitate 
mainstreaming, sustainability & stigma reduction enabling rapid 
scale up of the HIV response. Some of these methods suggested in-
troduce elements of sector level of planning.
 
Chpater-4 on operational planning of Targeted Intervention (TI) 
at the State level presents a holistic framework. It introduces 
an under emphasized dimension of programme level planning & in-
troduces some interesting concepts like sectoral analysis, pro-
ject mix, cumulative planning, planning for the entire programme 
horizon, etc. It argues that such planning paradigm should re-
place current yearly budgeting & allocation exercises at the 
State level. One important highlight of the framework currently 
is conscious reorganization of programmatic strategies, which has 
not been emphasized adequately currently.
 
Chapter-5 presents a conceptual framework for rapid learning & 
capacity building at all levels. It is well known that one of the 
key bottlenecks in India for rapid scale up is lack of existing 
capacities at all levels. It argues that average retention & ap-
plication in traditionally designed training programmes is very 
restricted. A conceptual framework for design, development & pro-
duction of training programmes is evolved based on concepts of 
adult learning, programme learning and experiential learning. One 
of the focuses of the framework is on learning in "emersion as 
well as in situ".
 
Chpater-6 identifies very many forms of partnerships for deepen-
ing HIV response. It argues that we need to strengthen 3C (in-
cluding concepts, capacities & contacts) through multi tier, 
multi faceted & multi dimensional partnerships. It argues for 
broad basing the existing concept of project level partnerships.
 
Sections-C deals with concepts relevant at micro/project level.
 
Chapter-7 on TI project planning framework presents a concept of 
project life cycle. It articulates that deepening of HIV response 
will not be doing more of the same year after year but changes in 
strategies, approaches & applications. It argues that single con-
cept of life cycle is a qualitative cum quantitative tool for 
planning TI, monitoring, evaluation & documenting TI efforts. It 
argues for developing such a paradigm for seeing at targeted in-
tervention projects.
 
Chpater-8 develops several generic strategies for project level 
scale up. It argues that a project poses several scale-up oppor-
tunities & careful & proactive planning of the same is essential. 
The framework is of immediate relevance to the State attempting 
rapid scale up.
 
Most of the concepts/framework evolved are readily applicable 
with moderate fine-tuning.
 
My efforts will be worthwhile if the policy influencers, decision 
makers & implementers find these concepts meaningful and take it 
further. The book is not meant to be prescriptive but aims at 
creating a debate & beyond.
 
Obviously, a book of this nature can only provide a starting 
point & not complete treatment of management science to HIV pro-
grammes. I further would like to work on concepts of micro plan-
ning, project management frameworks, various technical strate-
gies, management information system, knowledge management & gov-
ernance in HIV, peer system & learning etc. based on the response 
to this book & time permitting. To that effect, this book is a 
means & not an end in itself.
 
I dedicate this book to the people & institutions who have joined 
the fight against HIV/AIDS in this country.
 
I will appreciate your feedback & thoughts.
 
Rajendra Jani
SARAL
101, Akshat, Nr.Mithakhali Six Roads
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad-380006,India
Tel.: +91-79-3091 4717
mailto:saral@saralindia.org
http://www.saralindia.org

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