Key websites

Issues and challenges

Challenges and issues with the implementation of the NAC model, and the application of the Three Ones Principles, have been reported by the UN, the World Bank and discussed in wider literature. Reported challenges at the country level include:

Institutional arrangements and legal status

This section details how NAC's legal frameworks define their authority.

Role and Function

This section explains how NACs deliver on their mandates.

Capacity

This section details how human resource issues have hampered some NACs.

Governance arrangements

This section explores the relationships different NACs have with governments.

Additional AIDS coordinating mechanisms

This section explains how the introduction of new funding sources has led to the development of additional coordinating mechanisms separate from NACs.

Partnerships with Civil society

This section looks at how NACs intereact with civil society.

Partnerships with international development agencies

This section looks at how NACs interact with the various international aid agencies.

Recommended Reading

Putting the "Three Ones" to work: National AIDS Commissions: ( B. Mackay; C. Laurence / Policy Project, Futures Group, Washington , 2005); This Futures Groups policy briefing comments on how National AIDS Commissions (NACs) have been used to implement the goal of each country having a single coordinating authority on HIV and AIDS. This ...
Roles and responsibilities of National AIDS Commissions: debates and issues: ( C. Dickinson / HLSP Institute, UK , 2006); This technical brief from HLSP outlines the functions and key challenges facing National AIDS Commissions (NACs). It looks at what have been the main obstacles, why they have emerged and outlines t...
Understanding the institutional dynamics of Namibia's response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic: ( D-D Yates;M Caesar-Katsenga;K Chirambo / Institute for Democracy in South Africa , 2005); Namibia’s efforts to combat its HIV/AIDS epidemic began with the launch of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) in 1990 soon after independence. This paper published by the Institute for D...
Understanding the institutional dynamics of Zimbabwe's response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic: ( F Hatendi;E Makondo;M Caesar-Katsenga / Institute for Democracy in South Africa , 2005); This report from the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA) examines the organisational structure and programmes of the Zimbabwe National AIDS Council (ZNAC). The report, which is comprised o...
Cross sectoral partnerships and participation: Are National AIDS Councils a useful mechanism for facilitating partnerships and participation?: ( A. Strode / Institute for Democracy in South Africa , 2003); This workshop report prepared by the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA), examines the impact of a multi sectoral approach in dealing with the health, social and economic impact of the HIV...
Turning bureaucrats into warriors, preparing and implementing multi-sector HIV-AIDS programs In Africa - a generic operations manual: ( JC Brown;D Ayvalikli;N Mohammad / World Bank , 2004); This manual has been prepared to provide practical advice on preparing and implementing multi-sector programmes for countries engaged in tackling the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. It is aimed at national...
The US$500 million multi-country HIV/AIDS programme (MAP) for Africa: Progress review mission: ( World Bank , 2001); This report from the World Bank evaluates the Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program (MAP) for Africa, a project that aims to support national HIV/AIDS programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa to accelerate and expan...
Interim review of the multi-country HIV/AIDS program (MAP) for Africa: ( World Bank , 2004); This interim review of the first phase of the Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme (MAP) for Africa was carried out by the World Bank in January/February 2004. It examines projects in six countries: Benin...
Mainstreaming AIDS in development instruments and processes at the national level: a review of experiences: ( Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS , 2005); This review, from UNAIDS and UNDP, examines the experiences of mainstreaming HIV and AIDS in national development instruments and the technical support provided to national partners. The review focuse...
Improving AIDS coordination among multilateral institutions and international donors: ( Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS , 2005); This report from the Global Task Team (GTT), a UNAIDS-led initiative that sets out to improve coordination among multilateral agencies and international donors responding to HIV/AIDS, aims to improve ...
Global Fund - World Bank HIV/AIDS programmes: Comparative advantage study: ( A Shakow / World Bank , 2006); This study was undertaken at the request of the Global Fund and the World Bank (HIV/AIDS Global Program Team) in response to a recommendation in June 2005 from the Global Task Team (GTT) that the two ...
Effectiveness of multilateral action on AIDS: Harmonized support to scaling up the national response: ( Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS , 2006); This report, prepared for the 18th Meeting of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB), focuses on practical implementation of the “Three Ones”, a set of guiding principles agreed by ...
AIDS Councils as Catalysts for Unlocking Citizen Power: ( Institute for Democracy in South Africa , 2005); This manual, published by Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA), aims to provide information for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to develop and mobilise civil society’s engagemen...
Coordinating with communities – guidelines on the Involvement of the community sector in the coordinating of national AIDS responses: ( Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS , 2007); These guidelines, from UNAIDS in collaboration with the International Council of AIDS Service Organisations (ICASO), the African Council of AIDS Service Organisations (AfriCASO) and the International ...
Civil society and the 'Three Ones': ( International HIV/AIDS Alliance , 2005); This discussion paper examines the issues and questions that are emerging for civil society around the development of the 'Three Ones' initiative. It is based upon the practical experiences and strate...
A synthesis of institutional arrangements of National Aids Commissions in seven African countries (work in progress): ( C. Dickinson;J. Mundy;J. Whitelaw Jones / , 2007); This paper from HLSP presents a synthesis of institutional arrangements and issues currently facing National AIDS Commissions (NACs) in 2007. The paper is a work in progress and is based on a literatu...