Independent Evaluation of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative

From the introduction

This is the first evaluation of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). It covers the period 1996, when IAVI was formally established, until the end of calendar year 2002. The main aim of the evaluation is to assess the extent to which IAVI since its inception has met its key goals, as reflected in its first strategic plan, 1999-2001, and its second strategic plan, 2002-2004.

It also reviews IAVI's contribution to meeting global goals that are outlined in "blueprints" that IAVI issued in July 2000, one on research and development for AIDS vaccines and the other on gaining access to such vaccines. It also offers suggestions on how IAVI could position itself to meet future challenges.

While the evaluation primarily addresses the points noted above, it also attempts to answer a larger question: "what is the extent to which the world is closer to an AIDS vaccine and its use in the developing world today than it would have been without IAVI?"

This evaluation has been organised to be well focused but robust. It takes a broad view of IAVI, in the changing context globally for HIV/AIDS. It attempts to assess IAVI's performance in selected areas that have been critical to its establishment and early operations. It is retrospective. It does not attempt to be an in-depth examination of all of IAVI's work to date. It makes judgments, wherever possible, against performance benchmarks that were in IAVI's plans.

The evaluation was based on both quantitative and qualitative research. First, the panel members reviewed relevant literature and IAVI's published documents, unpublished files, Board documents, and other records. Second, panelists conducted informational interviews with about 160 people who have a stake in the development of an AIDS vaccine for the developing world and light to shed on IAVI's work.

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