Achieving change through local stakeholders

It is important to think about ways to learn from local responses to the challenges of HIV and AIDS. These experiences should influence international responses. The Senegalese example demonstrates how real change can happen at the local level - the global, political and resource environment changes, government reacts to the changes, and CSOs react differently to changes which, in turn, affect government reactions.

It is important to recognise that mechanisms need to be established to create spaces for civil society involvement and dialogue with government and other sectors. The UNAIDS concept of the Three Ones (One HIV/AIDS Action Framework, One National AIDS Co-ordinating Authority, One country-level Monitoring and Evaluation System) recognises the crucial role of civil society engagement at the national level. International stakeholders and allies also influence change. It is important to consider the role of CSOs and stakeholders in this process and consider the many different types of roles in donor agencies.

NGOs have been active in influencing policy work. Traditionally it has been by targeting northern governments and piloting programmes in the south. A different way is to create alliances and networks and to work together. Renewing our voice, a code of practice for NGOs working in HIV and AIDS is an example of NGOs mobilising across different sectors globally to produce an agreed, coherent set of guidelines.