addressing hiv and nutrition linkages: from evidence to impact
DESCRIPTION
Presented at RENEWAL’s Satellite Session "Nutrition Security, Social Protection and HIV: Operationalizing Evidence for Programs in Africa" at the XVIII International AIDS Conference. By Scott DrimieTRANSCRIPT
Addressing HIV and nutrition linkages: from evidence to impact
Scott DrimieInternational Food Policy Research Institute
Regional Network on AIDS, Livelihoods and Food Security
Nutrition Security, Social Protection and HIV: Operationalizing Evidence for Programs in AfricaXVIII International AIDS Conference , Vienna
18 July 2010
Objectives
• Focus on the challenge of translating this emerging evidence into large-scale action, and ultimately better impact.
• Discuss the pathways for policy influence when dealing with such complex interactions.
• Highlight some of the lessons from nine years of RENEWAL activity in eastern and southern Africa.
Science – Policy Interface
• Interface not well understood, and is often assumed.
• At least three distinctive perspectives:
– a linear and logical approach; – an iterative and incremental approach; and– an approach centered more on discourse.
Moving in the Divided Space
RENEWALImproved
Multi-Directional Dialogue
PolicyResearch
“Evidence”
Malawi MOA Capacity Strengthening
HIV and Agriculture Task Force
MOA: Ext Services
NAC: 2008Irish Aid: 2009
Strategy – based on scientific evidence Capacity limitations
RENEWAL / BundaSADC VAC training on HIV/FS
Modules for MOAFAO Funding
ScienceSam Bota RENEWAL Malawi
TB and HIV in Mbekweni, South Africa
ZAMBART Research Project
Community engagement Policy “dialogue” with NAC, DoH
RENEWAL National ForaMSc degrees, publications
Collaboration – build on strengths
Feedback Meeting:“march on the councilors”
Working as a network: lessons
• The nature of politics and political engagement:
– peculiar politics of HIV&AIDS
– labyrinthine departmental politics
– focus on sustaining relationships
Working as a network: lessons• The maintenance of integrity of interactive
research:
– adherence to principles of science whilst maintaining close relationships with those with political authority
– ensuring accountability to the communities within which the research is conducted.
– To “reach-in” to what individuals and organisations share rather than to focus on differences.
Working as a network: lessons• Selecting and nurturing ‘champions’ in government
and scientific organisations:
– senior officials regularly move to new posts
– scientists have a ‘natural’ reticence against use of their research in different forms and ways
– Need to engage in critical commentary and interpretation with different ‘non-science’ parties
New Ways of Working
• The “U-Process” in Mamelodi, South Africa:
– Urban-rural links research
• Urban epidemic• Urban informal settlements have double the HIV
prevalence of urban formal areas in South Africa• Risk factors (Weiser et al)• Mobility and spatial connections
Sickness and HIV:if the individual in Johannesburg becomes too sick to work, the majority will return back home
Support
54 %
67%
Importance of
food Burden on the household back
home.
Urban livelihood that supports
another household ‘back home’ would
be affected.
The “U-Process”: Phase 1“ Co-Sensing
Co-Presencing
Co-Realizing
Phase 1: Co-sensing “learning to see… the first schooling” –Nietzsche
Activities: foundation workshops, learning journeys.
Output: Documented shared understanding of reality.
The “U-Process”: Phase 2“
Co-Sensing
Co-Presencing
Co-Realizing
Phase 2:
Co-presencing Retreat and Reflect
Getting in touch with own relationship to the system, ‘inner knowing about it.
Activities: Innovation retreat, Wilderness solos
Output:: Clarity and commitment about what to do to create new reality
The “U-Process”: Phase 3“
Co-Sensing
Co-Presencing
Co-Realising
Phase 3: Co-realizing – bringing the new reality into existence
Activities: Implementation of innovations with potential to change the system, prototyping, piloting, learning by doing
Working as a network• The seemingly interminably slow process of
influencing policy requires a long-term perspective:
– Need to be persistent, to adopt an informed, supportive, flexible and adaptive approach.
– gradual strengthening of networks allows trust to be built while securing diverse representatives as a key source of legitimacy and, hence, influence.