Your response is requested: Political advocacy in the AIDS programme

[Guest guest]

Dear E-group members,

I am writing to follow up on a project I had described in an earlier email some

months ago.

I am a freelance journalist commissioned by Panos South Asia to document

political advocacy initiatives in the AIDS programme. This project, which covers

the six states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Manipur, Maharashtra

and Delhi, has been undertaken for UNAIDS.

I have conducted a number of face-to-face interviews in the six states and have

collected published material from the people I met. However, the report will

benefit from as many comments as possible, of those who have worked in the field

for some years.

Your response to the questionnaire which follows will be much appreciated.

Please include as much detail as possible, as your insights will be valued.

We need the responses, by email, by May 18, 2003.

Your name will not be mentioned in the report unless you state that you approve

of its inclusion. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

With best wishes,

Sandhya Srinivasan

8 Seadoll, 54 Chimbai Road

Bandra (W), Mumbai 400 050

Tel: (91 22) 2640 0607

Cell: 98204 10849

_________________

Questionnaire on political advocacy in the AIDS programme

Profile

1. Please select one or more of the following categories to indicate your

interest in the AIDS programme. (Part of the government health programme; NGO

working in the area; International health organisation; Health professional;

Researcher; Journalist; General public)

2. Would you approve of the use of your name in the report? Yes/ No

Need for political advocacy

3. Do you believe that there is a need for political advocacy in the AIDS

programme?

4. Could you explain why or why not?

Political advocacy efforts in your area

5. Are you aware of any political advocacy activities in your area?

6. Could you describe two or three significant activities?

7. Who initiates these activities? Government programme/ NGO/ others (if

'other' please specify)

8. If they involve training programmes, what is the duration and content of

the training?

Comment on political advocacy efforts in your area

9. Do the activities seem to be based on a clear vision and plan of action?

10. Are activities coordinated between organisations or is there an overlap or

competition between organisations?

11. Are they conducted regularly?

12. Is there any follow-up?

13. Are these activities are evaluated?

14. Do they provide correct information in a way that the relevant people can

understand it?

15. Could you list two benefits to these activities that you are aware of?

16. Could you list two difficulties encountered because of these efforts?

Political advocacy as a whole

17. Do you think political advocacy has made political leaders more committed

to the subject?

18. Why or why not?

19. What, according to you, can motivate politicians to work on HIV/AIDS?

20. Can you identify any areas of concern related to political advocacy

activities in the AIDS programme?

21. If there is a need for political advocacy, how should it be conducted?

22. What are the issues political leaders should take up?

23. What should the content of advocacy be?

24. Are there any difficult areas that need to be highlighted?

25. What do you believe are the limitations of political advocacy efforts?