Securitizing HIV/AIDS: a game changer in state-societal relations in China?

Lo, Catherine Yuk-ping

Intervention of the Global Fund's funding mechanism was deemed to transform the primary HIV/AIDS governance in China [53] . The Global Fund required the governments to set up a country-level Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM) to construct the grant proposals in line with the national HIV/AIDS-related strategies, manage the use and distribution of grants, and also oversee the implementation of successful applications. As per the requirement of the Global Fund, CCM should consist of a broad representation from the government, NGOs, multilateral and bilateral agencies, and private sector [54] . In the existing government structure in China, grassroots NGOs have limited channels to participate in policymaking and implementation processes. Thus, the multi-sectoral structure of CCM contributed to enhancing the government's commitment to involve NGOs in national HIV/AIDS prevention and control measures [55] . Two among the 22 seats in Chinese CCM were reserved for the representatives of HIV/ AIDS-related grassroots NGOs and people living with HIV/AIDS are a case in point [56] . Considering the existing government structure does not allow the full involvement of NGOs in China, the CCM provided valuable opportunities for civil society groups to engage in HIV/AIDS-related policymaking. The involvement of NGOs in national HIV/AIDS programs was notably highlighted in Round 6 of the Global Fund in China, since the theme of the grant proposal submitted by the CCM was directly linked to the development of civil society groups (Refer to Table 3 ). In the course of the interview, a director of a Hong Kongbased NGO commented on the profound influence of the Round 6 on the NGO development: "Round 6 of the Global Fund acts as a pushing force for the government to involve more grassroots NGOs in HIV/AIDS interventions" (national NGO-1). In line with the respondent's opinion, Kaufman argued the Round 6 in particular "was seen by many as a further mechanism to institutionalize HIV/[AIDS] NGOs roles in China's [HIV]/AIDS response [42] ."