How building international research capacity can help combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic: Evidence from an independent evaluation of the AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP)

Established by the Fogarty International Center (FIC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1988, the AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP) serves as a model for diverse international research training and research capacity building programs that respond to the most urgent and anticipated global health threats. This presentation will present the results of an outcome evaluation that used quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis including interviews with over 120 key informants around the world, a survey of ‘matched cohorts', and publications analysis and bibliometrics. Key measures on the program's main goals -developing expertise, building capacity and increasing collaborations – are presented, in addition to the self reported positive changes in research and career opportunities of AITRP trainees.

The results of the evaluation highlight: (1) that AITRP has a high success in traditional outcomes; (2) the increased likelihood that AITRP trainees can play a key role in HIV/AIDS policymaking at national, local and institutional levels; (3) that funding and types of training must be responsive, yet nimble, to developing countries' policy; and (4) the need for more sustained ‘connectedness' for collaboration across and within countries and the US in order to sustain multi-level capacities in combating the global AIDS epidemic. The findings emphasize the need to use evaluation to inform program management and will address conceptual and methodological challenges for both the design and evaluation of current and future programs designed to combat global health threats through collaboration between US and international researchers and policymakers.