An analysis of NGO advocacy impact on HIV/AIDS policy making in developing countries

The Global spread of HIV/AIDS has been a concern for the world since 1980s, but it only has been a priority at the global stage for the last fifteen years, especially in low- and middle- income countries. International sources mainly come from donor countries and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). This analysis attempts to assess NGO advocacy impacts on HIV/AIDS policy making in developing countries. Do NGOs encourage governments to make more effective policies on HIV/AIDS? NGOs use their spending in developing countries as an advocacy mechanism to affect the policymaking regarding HIV/AIDS issue. They influence local offices through cooperation with them by using their spending as a strategy to encourage more government spending on HIV/AIDS. NGOs develop formal or informal networks with local and federal governments. They utilize their spending and expertise on HIV/AIDS to advocate vertically for HIV/AIDS policy from bottom up. Advocacy efforts of NGOs are assessed through their spending on HIV/AIDS in each developing country, while policy outcome is assessed through government spending on HIV/AIDS. Two influential organizations are evaluated, including: UNAIDS and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Data covers spending of both UNAIDS and the Global Fund in 134 developing countries from 2005 to 2010. The preliminary analysis suggests that NGOs are correlated with an increase in government implementing more progressive HIV/AIDS policies, and therefore spending more on HIV/AIDS in developing countries.