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This paper provides preliminary empirical evidence regarding the perceived role and actual experiences of HIV/AIDS intervention-focused civil society organisations (CSOs) in Botswana's national response. Key informants see the national response as government-centred and the role of CSOs within interventions as negligible. Despite secondary evidence that indicates a fairly robust and diverse civil society community, interviews with CSO personnel revealed that the roles and experiences of grassroots organisations are currently hampered by spatial, institutional and socio-cultural dynamics of intervention operationalisation. This raises questions about the extent to which this scenario may create or exacerbate obstacles regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of the national HIV/AIDS response in Botswana.

Keywords: interventions, southern Africa, roles, experiences, perceptions

African Journal of AIDS Research 2006, 5(2): 167–178