Rural development professionals face HIV and AIDS challenges

HIV and AIDS have hit rural livelihoods hard. How has the pandemic changed the work of rural development professionals? What knowledge, skills and attitudes do they need to meet the new challenges? Researchers from Wageningen University in The Netherlands find some answers to these questions.

HIVand AIDS have reduced family labour forces, increased costs for health care andfunerals, and worsened food security risks for rural households. The currenttasks, abilities and responsibilities of rural and development professionals (RDPs) cannot fully address their needs. RDPshave to respond to the changing situations of their clients, both old and new,and review approaches used in agricultural extension services.

Thestudy aims to identify the knowledge, skills and attitudes that RDPs need to deal with HIV and AIDS issues in their workwith farming families. The researchers analyse case stories, questionnaires,in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion with RDPsfrom East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) and Zambia.

Theyfound that rural development organisations are facing increased workloads dueto the HIV-related loss of colleagues, increased absenteeism and decreasedfinancial resources. Among their rural clients, the reduced labour force andloss of farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer are leading to lower agricultural production,food insecurity and poor nutrition. Changes in household composition mean thatthey have to work with new client groups. They are also adjusting to changes inagricultural practices as farmers switch to less demanding crops andlabour-saving methods.

Asa result of HIV and AIDS, RDPs need a range of newknowledge, skills and attitudes, including:

• counselling,facilitation and supportive and caring communication
• networkingand taking a more holistic approach to their work
• lobbyingand advocacy
• knowledgeof HIV and AIDS basic facts and nutrition
• dealingwith changed food production and livestock systems
• applyingtechnical knowledge
• problemsolving
• genderand HIV and AIDS mainstreaming.

Theauthors conclude that decision-makers working in rural development where HIVand AIDS are prevalent should:

• recognisethe comparative advantage of RDPs and concentrate onreshaping agricultural activities so that they better meet the needs of ruralhouseholds affected by HIV
• integratecompetency-based training into programmes at agricultural colleges
• exploreopportunities for ‘on-the-job’ training
• take a new approachthat focuses on the human dimension of change.