Abstract
This paper locates NGOs dealing with HIV/AIDS problems in sub-Saharan Africa into the larger governance context within which they function. This aims at a theoretical shift to assess the aspirational characteristics for the agency of NGOs that are used to legitimate contracting out implementation of internationally designed HIV/AIDS policies to these organizations. The paper interrogates the nature and impact of the governance structure on NGOs and then looks at the implications of this for HIV/AIDS. The questioning is based on a juxtaposition of the perspective of international policy fora in relation to civil society organizations with the way NGO work is perceived by the people at the receiving end of the policies. The paper suggests that as part of the international governance structure, NGOs are limited within the policy frameworks created by this structure. Furthermore, due to their organizational characteristics, NGOs lack capacity to establish sustainable long-term interventions relevant for sociocultural change as perceived by people themselves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Clark, J. (1991). Democratizing Development: The Role of Voluntary Organisations, Earthscan, London.
Fowler, A. (1997). Striking a Balance: A Guide to Enhancing the Effectiveness of Non-Governmental Organisations in International Development, Earthscan, London.
Flyvbjerg, B. (2001). Making Social Science Matter: Why Social Inquiry Fails and How it Can Succeed Again, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Fyvie, C., and Ager, A. (1999). NGOs and innovation: Organizational characteristics and constraints in development assistance work in Gambia. World Development 27(8), 1383-1395.
Global HIV Prevention Working Group (GHPWG). (2003). Access to HIV Prevention: Closing the Gap, UNAIDS, Geneva.
James, D. (2002). "To take the information down to the people": Life skills and HIV/AIDS peer educators in the Durban area. African Studies 61(1), 169-191.
Lewis, D. (2001). The Management of Non-Governmental Developmental Organisations, Routledge, London.
Najam, A. (1998). Understanding NGOs as policy entrepreneurs. In Lewis, D. (ed.), International Perspectives on Voluntary Action: Rethinking the Third Sector, Earthscan, London.
Poku, N. K. (2002). The Global AIDS Fund: Context and opportunity. Third World Quarterly 23(2), 283-298.
Sahley, C. (1995). Strengthening the capacity of NGOs: Cases of small enterprise development agencies in Africa. In INTRAC Management and Policy Series, No. 4, INTRAC, Oxford.
Sayagues, M. (2002, Nov. 28). Reuters report on AIDS workers struggle to reach Botswana's youth. Reuters.
Seckinelgin, H. (2002). Civil society as a metaphor for western liberalism. Global Society 16(4), 357-376.
Tully, J. (2002). Political philosophy as a critical activity. Political Theory 30(4), 533-555.
UNAIDS. (2002a). Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic Update 2002, UNAIDS, Geneva.
UNAIDS. (2002b).Children on the Brink 2002, UNAIDS, Geneva.
UNAIDS. (2002c). Global AIDS Update December 2002, UNAIDS, Geneva.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Seckinelgin, H. Who Can Help People with HIV/AIDS in Africa? Governance of HIV/AIDS and Civil Society. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations 15, 287–304 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:VOLU.0000046282.77664.e5
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:VOLU.0000046282.77664.e5