Strengthening HIV-related interventions in Zambia: co-operation in research and institution capacity building

Research area(s):
Community approaches - General social/cultural
Community approaches -Prevention
Epidemiological approaches - Behavioural
Epidemiological approaches - Estimation/trends
Impact - Demographic

Project start:
01.05.2002

Project end:
31.12.2011

Co-ordinators:
Fylkesnes, Knut
Michelo, Charles

Institutions:
Central Statistical Office, Lusaka, Zambia,
Centre for International Health, University of Bergen
Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zambia

Funding source(s):
NUFU (The Norwegian Council for Higher Education’s Programme for Development Research and Education),

Project description:

To strengthen HIV-related preventive, support and care interventions in Zambia through the generation of knowledge bases of strategic importance, significant expansion of Zambian research capacity, and the promotion of close links between research institutions and policy/operational levels.

The severity of the HIV pandemic in an increasing number of developing countries, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa, calls for strong and resolute responses. This programme has been developed as a response to the urgent need to strengthen HIV-related research and institution capacity in countries severely affected. Cooperation in research and capacity building will be established between the University of Zambia and several other Zambian institutions, and the University of Bergen. The overall objective is to assist in the generation of knowledge bases of strategic importance for more effective preventive/care interventions. The programme will promote close co-ordination of research institutions with the policy and operational levels and needs to involve multiple partners and to be interdisciplinary.

In Zambia the National Epidemiological HIV Surveillance and Research System has been identified as the core research project, i.e. established as part of the National AIDS Programme involving Zambian institutions, with scientific contribution from Norway and financially supported by NORAD and SIDA. Significant expansion of capacity is critical to sustain and further develop the system, and it will be complemented by research projects employing a diversity of methods.

Countries:
Norway
Zambia