Graft follows AIDS money

This research paper examines the challenges of managing HIV/AIDS funding in poor communities, specifically focusing on the risk of graft and the lack of administrative capacity in grassroots organisations in South Africa and Kenya.

• The rapid increase in global HIV/AIDS funding creates significant opportunities for misappropriation. UNAIDS estimates that $6.1 billion will be spent in low- and middle-income countries this year, a substantial increase from less than $1 billion in 2000.
• Corruption and financial mismanagement have affected high-profile AIDS organisations in Kenya and South Africa. In Kenya, the National AIDS Control Council director, Margaret Gachara, was removed in October 2003 for using faked documents to obtain a salary nearly seven times the norm. In South Africa, the National Association of People Living with AIDS (NAPWA) received over R5 million from the government in two years but reportedly failed to pay staff and closed provincial offices.
• Grassroots organisations often lack the formal education and management experience required to handle donor funds. In the Umkhanyakude district, many organisations are run by individuals with no computer skills or English language proficiency, leading to difficulties in meeting reporting requirements and a lack of understanding regarding the misuse of resources.
• There is a systemic reluctance within the HIV/AIDS sector to report funding abuses due to fears that such disclosures will discourage donors. The Treatment Action Campaign admitted to limiting public statements about NAPWA's funding abuses to avoid creating disunity among people with HIV/AIDS.
• Intermediary organisations, such as the Sibambisene AIDS Network and the AIDS Foundation of South Africa, provide a potential solution by helping small groups apply for funding and teaching them accounting practices. However, these intermediaries are sometimes criticised because a large portion of donated funds is spent on monitoring staff salaries rather than direct aid.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2008). Graft follows AIDS money. https://saiia.org.za/research/graft-follows-aids-money/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Graft follows AIDS money. 2008. https://saiia.org.za/research/graft-follows-aids-money/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Graft follows AIDS money |date=25 April 2008 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/graft-follows-aids-money/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2008graft, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Graft follows AIDS money}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2008}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/graft-follows-aids-money/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }