TOP Publications

Ashton, P. and Ramasar, V. (2001). Water and HIV/AIDS: some strategic considerations in Southern Africa. Pretoria.
The publication is online available as a chapter (16) of Turton, A.R. & Henwood, R. (Eds.) Hydropolitics in the Developing World: A Southern African Perspective, African Water Issues Research Unit (AWIRU) (2002).
[ http://www.internationalwaterlaw.org/Articles/hydropolitics_book.pdf]
This is probably the first publication that draws attention to the negative effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on the provision of wholesome water supply and efficient resource management. First a strategic overview of the HIV/AIDS panpidemic in Southern Africa is provided and then the extent in which it influences and is influenced by water resource management on the continent is examined..

Bell, E. (2002). Gender and HIV/AIDS: supporting resources collection.
Bridge Development- Gender, Institute for Development Studies, UK. Available online.
[ http://www.ids.ac.uk/bridge/reports/CEP-HIV-SR.pdf]
This publication provides summaries of key resources outlining why gender is important in understanding the impact and spread of HIV/AIDS. Different strategies are discussed that have been employed to combat the epidemic and help this affected. Recommendations for policymakers and practitioners are provided as well as information on courses, websites, networking and contact details of organisations specialising in gender and HIV/AIDS.

Bjorkman, A. (2002). HIV/AIDS and Poverty Reduction Strategies.
UNDP Policy note. Available online.
[ http://www.undp.org/hiv/docs/alldocs/hivprsEng25oct02.pdf ]
The Policy Note provides a synthesis of cutting-edge thinking on the interface between poverty reduction strategies and efforts to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. It proposes nine policy areas that UNDP and its partners must focus on as a matter of priority.At the core of the Policy Note is a checklist with specific guidance on how to integrate HIV/AIDS into poverty reduction strategies, relevant for all countries regardless of their current HIV prevalence rates. The Note concludes by bringing the discussion to the global level. It recommends that UNDP-in the context of the Millennium Development Goals Campaign-step up its advocacy for placing HIV/AIDS at the centre of the international development agenda, capitalising and building on its work at country level.

Cohen, D. (2002). Human Capital and the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
Working Paper 2, ILO Programme on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work, Geneva. Available online.
[ http://www.ilo.org/public/libdoc/ilo/2002/102B09_378_engl.pdf ]
This working paper concerns the impact of HIV/AIDS on human capital in sub-Saharan Africa. It provides insights into the impact of the epidemic on sustainable development in the region that is hardest hit by AIDS and already seriously affected by poverty, by focussing on key factors critical to human capital. The paper analyses the loss of human capital particularly in the health and education sector and suggests how to respond to AIDS-related loss of skilled and professional labour through mobilising governments and workplace partners. A multi-sectoral programme of action to maintain human capital is provided.

Cohen, D. (2002). Poverty and HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Issues Paper No. 27, HIV and Development Program, UNDP. Available online.
[ http://www.undp.org/hiv/publications/issues/english/issue27e.html]
The paper addresses the basic problem that the HIV Epidemic makes sustained human development more and more unattainable, and actually adds to poverty, while it also destroys the human resource capacities essential for an effective response. Cohen explains that the two bi-causal relationships (between poverty and HIV/AIDS and between HIV/AIDS and poverty) can best be understood as a process. The epidemic has stages and the effects of the epidemic are aggregative.

Cohen, D. (2002 d). Mainstreaming the Policy and Programming response to the HIV epidemic.
Issues Paper No. 33, HIV and Development Program, UNDP. Available online.
[ http://www.undp.org/hiv/publications/issues/English/issue33e.htm]
This paper argues that what is needed is a more complex understanding of the epidemic than has existed hitherto, together with an increased capacity for designing and implementing more effective policy and programming responses. All of these conditions need to be present for an effective worldwide response to the epidemic, of which UNAIDS is an important component. Mainstreaming HIV has to contain all of these - a more complex understanding; a capacity for improved design of programmes and projects through new processes, which are socially inclusive; and new and different and more participatory systems for implementing programme responses.

Franks, T. and Cleaver, F. (2002). 'People, livelihoods and decision making in catchment management: a case study from Tanzania'. In: Waterlines, vol. 20. no.3, 7-10.
This article illustrates the complexity of catchment water managent and the importance of understanding the context of economic, political and cultural aspects of livelihoods in a catchment. Issues highlighted include the need for institutions, which cross resource boundaries, ways of including those stakeholders usually excluded from decision-making processes, and the importance of livelihood constraints - including HIV/AIDS - on people's participation in resource management.

Hemrich, G. and Topouzis, D. (2000). "Multi-sectoral responses to HIV/AIDS: constraints and opportunities for technical co-operation". In: Journal of International Development, 12, 85-99.
This paper proposes a conceptual framework on the relevance of HIV/AIDS to non-health technical cooperation programmes, highlighting factors of susceptibility and vulnerability to the epidemic. It is argued that as HIV/AIDS is rooted in problems of underdevelopment, sucha as poverty, food and livelihood insecurity, socio-cultrual inequalities and poor support services and infrastructure, AIDS-specific responses alone are unlikely to contain the spread or mitigate the impact of the epidemic.A shift is needed towards an approach that addresses broader development problems across sectors, highlighting the specificity of HIV where necessary.

Loewenson, R. and Whiteside, A. (2001). HIV/AIDS; Implications for Poverty Reduction.
UNDP. Background paper for the UNDP for the UN General Assembly. Special session on HIV/AIDS 25-27 june (2001). Available online.
[www.undp.org/dpa/frontpagearchive/ 2001/june/22june01/hiv-aids.pdf]
This paper concerns the subject of counteracting the developmental impact of the epidemic. The devastating and multifaceted socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS, well beyond the tragedy of illness and death, is described. Five priorities for action in coping with this impact are identified: preventing the collapse of essential public services; intensifying and adapting poverty reduction efforts; protecting educational achievements;mitigating the impact on labour productivity and supply, and promoting opportunities for women who carry the brunt of the epidemic.