Organizational Features of AIDS Networks

AIDS networks differ in terms of geographical scope, thematic focus, structure, and membership.

Geographical Scope

Networks exist at the national, sub-regional, regional, and international levels. For example:

National

Zimbabwe AIDS Network (ZAN)
Liga Colombiana de lucha contra el SIDA
Pakistan AIDS Prevention Society

Sub-regional

Southern African Network of AIDS Service Organizations (SANASO)
Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (CRN+)

Regional

African Council of AIDS Service Organizations (AfriCASO)
Asia Pacific Council of AIDS Service Organizations (APCASO)
Latin America and the Caribbean Council of AIDS Service Organizations (LACCASO)

International

International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO)
Global Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (GNP+)
International Community of Women Living With HIV/AIDS (ICW)

Thematic Focus

There are numerous AIDS networks organized around specific themes or issues which constitute their members’ areas of action. A few examples are listed by category:

THEME	EXAMPLE
Children & Youth	Children and AIDS International NGO Network European Forum on HIV/AIDS, Children and Families
Ethics & Law	Latin American and Caribbean Network on Law, Ethics and HIV Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Homosexuality	Gay Health Network Colectivo Sol
Injection Drug User	Asia Harm Reduction Network
Migrants	AIDS & Mobility European Project
Northern International Development	Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development UK NGO AIDS Consortium HIV/AIDS International Development Network of Australia
Positive People	Network of African People with HIV/AIDS Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS UK Coalition of People Living with HIV & AIDS
Religion	International Christian AIDS Network
Sex Workers	Network of Sexwork Projects
Treatment	European AIDS Treatment Group
Women	Women and AIDS Support Network Fundaciara Estudio e Investigacie la Mujer Society for Women and AIDS in Africa

Network Structure

Networks can be informal or formal in nature. The difference is that the latter has a formal coordinating structure, whilst the former does not. There is a spectrum between very informal and very formal networks.

The structure that a network will choose depends on many factors, the most important of which are:

what is your network trying to achieve?;
what resources do you have (time, money and people); and
how do your members want the network to be organized?

Often the reason why a group of individuals and/or organizations agree to collaborate does not require an elaborate structure. For example, the purpose of some networks is simply to exchange information on topics of common interest (e.g., human rights). These exchanges of information do not require a complex administrative or managerial arrangement.

Some networks, however, do require a more formal structure to accomplish their goals. This is particularly true if they are trying to coordinate activities of member organizations with the aim of avoiding duplication of services.

The International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO), for example, has over time developed a highly structured coordination mechanism. It is governed by a body composed of members, has a central secretariat, paid staff, regional secretariats and has guidelines for the network’s operations at the central, regional and national levels.

Typically most AIDS networks fall somewhere along a continuum between a loose single purpose network for information exchange and a highly formalized network. It is also important to note that network structures are not static: they tend to change over time. For example, some networks start with a loose structure and gradually become more formal. Other networks may move from a formal structure to a looser structure over time.

Membership

Some AIDS networks are composed entirely of individuals while others are composed entirely of organizations. Other AIDS networks are a combination or individual members and organizational members.

Note: See Chapter Two for more discussion of network structures.