The Role of US AIDS Groups in Global AIDS Issues and Activities

ERROR MSGAn In-depth Stakeholder Consultation

Final Report: Summary, Analysis and Recommendations–March 2001

Over the last ten months the Global AIDS Action Network has facilitated a wide-ranging discussion seeking to address the question of "how, and if, US AIDS groups could be involved in global AIDS activities." This dialog was principally among 35 US institutions, roughly half of who were AIDS service organizations and half are potential funding/facilitating organizations. Throughout this process perspective was sought and received from groups in southern nations with ultimately 22 groups providing substantive input via meetings, phone calls, and email. The consultation was conducted in three rounds over ten months, with every organization participating in the first round, approximately two thirds continuing into the second round, and one third commenting in round three.

By the end of the first series of discussions, a basic consensus had been reached; this agreement remained unchallenged over the next two rounds. Efforts to deepen this consensus were only somewhat successful, as what was being proposed included fairly unique activities outside the experience of many participants. However specific proposals were made on implementing the consensus, and these met with general approval in the broader discussion. At the end of the dialog many participants urged GAAN to step out of the role of rappetour and lay out its own analysis and recommendations based on this dialog. These are attached.

Virtually all the substantive dialog in this consultation occurred in the first two rounds of discussion and is reported on in preliminary reports one and two. We will not reiterate those reports here; however, the basic conclusions reached in this consultation are:

1. US AIDS groups can and should be involved in global AIDS issues. However, it is essential that these activities clearly benefit southern groups, and there is great concern that many means of involvement do not achieve this goal despite the best of intentions. The two areas of involvement seen as most promising are advocacy in the US on global issues and two-way partnerships.
2. five star hotel in TolouseAdvocacy of the US government and private institutions was seen as the most important activity US AIDS groups could undertake. Such advocacy efforts need to be informed by southern organizations, but no clear method to do this was identified.
3. Virtually all other international work by US AIDS groups was seen as best approached via long term two-way partnerships between US groups and their southern counterparts. There is a compelling need for new mechanisms to facilitate such partnerships that allow southern groups to be the initiator as well as the recipient in partnerships and to control their own share of partnership funding.
4. Luxus-Hotels HeraklionUS groups clearly can receive significant benefit from southern groups via their expertise in key areas, solidarity, and expert perspective on potential global AIDS advocacy efforts.