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 Drimie

1. Addressing HIV and nutrition linkages: from
evidence to impact
Scott Drimie
International Food Policy Research Institute
Regional Network on AIDS, Livelihoods and Food Security
Nutrition Security, Social Protection and HIV: Operationalizing Evidence for Programs in Africa
XVIII International AIDS Conference , Vienna
18 July 2010

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Moving in the Divided Space
RENEWAL
Research Improved
Policy
“Evidence” Multi-Directional
Dialogue

5. Malawi MOA Capacity Strengthening
NAC: 2008
Irish Aid: 2009
MOA: Ext Services
HIV and Agriculture Task Force
Strategy – based on
Capacity limitations
scientific evidence
RENEWAL / Bunda
SADC VAC training on HIV/FS
Science Modules for MOA
FAO Funding
Sam Bota RENEWAL Malawi

6. TB and HIV in Mbekweni, South
Africa
Community engagement
Policy “dialogue” with NAC, DoH
ZAMBART Research RENEWAL National Fora
Project MSc degrees, publications
Collaboration – build on strengths
Feedback Meeting:
“march on the councilors”

7. Working as a network: lessons
• The nature of politics and political engagement:
– peculiar politics of HIV&AIDS
– labyrinthine departmental politics
– focus on sustaining relationships

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. Sickness and HIV:
if the individual in Johannesburg becomes too
sick to work, the majority will return back home
54 %
67%
Urban livelihood Support
Importance of
that supports
another household food Burden on the
household back
‘back home’ would
be affected. home.

12. The “U-Process”: Phase 1
“
Co-Sensing
Phase 1: Co-sensing Co-
“learning to see… the Realizing
first schooling” –
Nietzsche
Activities: foundation
workshops, learning
journeys.
Output: Documented
shared understanding Co-Presencing
of reality.

13. The “U-Process”: Phase 2
“ Phase 2:
Co-
Co-presencing Retreat Sensing
and Reflect
Co-
Getting in touch with own Realizing
relationship to the
system, ‘inner knowing
about it.
Activities: Innovation
retreat, Wilderness solos
Output:: Clarity and
commitment about what Co-Presencing
to do to create new reality

14. The “U-Process”: Phase 3
“
Phase 3: Co-
realizing – bringing Co-
the new reality into Sensing
existence Co-Realising
Activities:
Implementation of
innovations with
potential to change
the system,
prototyping, piloting,
learning by doing
Co-Presencing

15. 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.