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Papers > Michael Loevinsohn

The Regional Network on HIV/AIDS, Rural Livelihoods and Food Security - Research Making a Difference

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Michael Loevinsohn RENEWAL Coordinator Website: www.isnar.cgiar.org/renewal

Contents The Context of HIV/AIDS in Rural S&E Africa RENEWAL (Regional Network on HIV/AIDS, Rural Livelihoods and Food Security) What is it? What is it doing? Where is it going? The Context: HIV/AIDS in rural E&S Africa Prevalence still rising in many areas, closing the gap with urban sites Density and breadth of surveillance a problem But clear at least that infection rates & trends vary widely, even over short distances Agriculture’s contribution to HIV Asymmetrical sexual relations and mobility are key to speed & scale of HIV’s spread Poverty/food insecurity can leave young adults with little but their bodies to market Rural development creates poles & risk Markets and trading centers Agro-industries or smallhold cash cropping Without rural options, young adults move to cities Poverty may prevent people acting on what they know about HIV risks Policies and programs contribute to food (in)security and the distribution of livelihoods – and thus to HIV risk They affect also people’s ability to respond to the consequences of AIDS AIDS’ effects on Agriculture Infection: increases nutritional demands Illness and death: pushes HHs into coping/mining syndromes Community: safety nets strained; information networks exclude the most affected Commodity chains, institutions: delayed repercussions Institutional environment Demands for a multi-sectoral response “AIDS is more than a health problem” Yet outside health the response slow Understanding scarcer than information Tough concepts: Agricultural dev’t can create HIV/AIDS risks Risks within as well as outside institutions High stakes Changes outside health have driven health transitions, over decades e.g. TB, malaria Can we focus research on the wider forces – in/around Agriculture – that determine HIV infection and AIDS’ impact, supporting action effective in a much shorter time? Responsive to local differences? Responsive to the other major stressors? Purpose Prevent and mitigate AIDS’ impacts on rural livelihoods and food security Objectives Fill critical gaps in knowledge: On agriculture-AIDS links – both directions How policies/programs can contribute to prevention & mitigation Enable R&D organizations to act on realistic priorities, in partnership with communities & other sectors National lead institutions Uganda: Makerere, NARO, UAC, UNASO Malawi: Min.Ag., Univ. Malawi, OXFAM Zambia & S. Africa – 2003/4 Regional lead institutions Southern Africa AIDS Training Program, ASARECA, SACCAR International lead institutions ISNAR, IFPRI, FAO Strategy Preparatory phase: 2001-2 Background papers in Malawi & Uganda State of knowledge and responses Think Tank --> Stakeholder Workshop Define priorities, Propose organization Involve policy and political leaders National networks: “light” secretariats, broad-based steering cttees, AR Funds MOUs with national lead organizations Strategy Main phase: 2002-5 Action research On actions, with those responsible On gaps in understanding that, if closed, would make more effective action possible Add value to existing efforts (an AIDS perspective in agriculture or vice versa) Integrate monitoring and evaluation Information sharing and learning within and among the national networks Methods workshops Skill enhancement (“School without walls”) Web sites, resource centers National and regional forums, policy seminars Rural radio Themes with short term benefits (1-2 years) Assessing policies and programs Review for relevance to prevention/mitigation Follow some in the field to verify Test modified versions that enhance benefits Identifying and supporting innovation in AIDS-affected farm households & c’tties Use local networks to identify promising ones Use rural radio etc. to increase access Themes with medium term benefits (2-5 years) - examples New options for/with affected c’tties New forms of social organization Food security, livelihood options to prevent HIV or to mitigate AIDS impacts Feasibility of targeting actions at the system level Identifying systems that make people (i) particularly vulnerable or resilient to AIDS or (ii) susceptible or resistant to HIV Projects underway or in development - examples Identifying and supporting innovation in AIDS-affected farm communities using rural radio (Malawi and Uganda) Resilience to AIDS impacts in maize, cassava and tobacco-based agricultural systems (Malawi) The role of farmer organizations in preventing and mitigating HIV/AIDS (Uganda) Projects underway or in development - (SAT partners) Food security interventions to support home-based care (Lilongwe District, Malawi Livelihood and food security interventions to support HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation (Zomba District, Malawi) International public goods Cases of agricultural institutions making a difference in prevention & mitigation Methods refined and tested Concepts, operationally defined Resistance to HIV Resilience to AIDS

The HIV/AIDS lens A conceptual tool to help decision makers re-view situations and their actions in the light of HIV/AIDS RENEWAL is developing processes thru which decision makers at different levels can learn to use the lens Communities deciding on actions Institutions reviewing policies & programs Where is RENEWAL going? Uganda: Integrating HIV/AIDS in the Plan for the Modernization of Agriculture HIV/AIDS & the Food Crises in Southern Africa – 2nd call for proposals Building on the priorities and Malawi NW Drawing in Zambia and South Africa HIV/AIDS & the Food Crises in Southern Africa Evidence that HIV/AIDS has increased vulnerability to small climatic shocks Evidence that food insecurity has increased the prevalence of survival sex What are the implications for policy and programs by development as well as relief/humanitarian organizations? Proposed Timeline May 2003: Disseminate concept note Early June: Release Call for Proposals August: Review CNs, invitations to regional workshop October: Workshop in Malawi Nov-Dec: Proposals developed, reviewed, refined Jan 2004: Country-level SH workshops; finalization of proposals February: Grants awarded, AR begins 2004-05: Practitioner workshops, skill enhancement, national/regional forums for presentation/discussion of results

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