This study aims to answer the central question: "What is the overall impact of current major vertical and bilateral international financing structures for HIV and AIDS on local and district-level responses?"

The following specific objectives will be pursued:

• To explore the effect of funding on local politics and power bases
• To determine the influence of funding directives on local agendas, for example the conceptualisation of responses and the perception of their appropriateness
• To determine the effect offunding structures on the co-ordination of efforts and the mechanisms of accountability at local levels