THE DAC NETWORK ON DEVELOPMENT EVALUATION Evaluation Insights Preventing HIV Lessons from evaluations

Spending on the international response to HIV rose dramatically from $300 million in 1996 to more than $15 billion in 2009 (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2010). But, in its 2011 World AIDS Day report, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) raised concerns that the current economic crisis and dwindling international resources had reduced financing available for the AIDS response. UNAIDS argued that it was of critical importance to ensure resources are invested wisely to maximise return and achieve value for money. To do this, evidence is needed regarding effective and efficient ways to spend funds available to HIV responses. Evaluations are potentially a valuable source of such evidence.