Index of Paper Presentations for the Parallel Sessions - Academy of ...

A nation‘s capacity embodies the ability of the nation, in our case the GOI, to carry outspecific governmental functions such as the fight against HIV/AIDS. This conception of nation‘scapacity is embodied in NACO‘s approach to HIV/AIDS; specifically the technical andadministrative capacities as they relate to the GOI‘s ability to implement macro policies (i.e.technical capacity) and the ability to manage several stakeholders for increased social welfare.Our analysis shows that through the first two NACP phases, the GOI developed a set ofcapabilities that to a great extent seem to have been developed organically; this is at the core ofthe resource-based view theory (Barney, 1986; Dierickx & Cool, 1989). While resource-basedview theorists are concerned with capability heterogeneity across firms, our focus is on the typesof capabilities as they could explain the deficiencies on the governance structure adopted byNACO in the fight against HIV/AIDS. More specifically, our analysis shows that as a result ofNACP-I and NACP-II, NACO developed tangible (i.e. technical) and intangible (i.e.administrative) capabilities which were not aligned and as result we observed governancedeficiencies.Tangible capabilities are easier to codify and transfer (at minimal cost) from thecapability holder to the final user. These are, for example, capabilities imbedded in manuals andprocedures or even in technology. More specifically, these are capabilities associated withsurveillance and blood testing. On the contrary, intangible capabilities (such as monitoring ofbehaviour, producing research and managerial reports and so on) are difficult to codify and thetransfer from the capability holder to the final user is very expensive. These are often capabilitiesdeveloped for specific set of circumstances which may not be duplicated and that may involvemany stakeholders in its development.Table 2. Capabilities and NACPNACP-I1992-1999Tangible capabilities developedduring this phase Surveillance by centralgovernment (focused on high riskgroups)Intangible capabilities developed duringthis phase Capacity building (with regards tocoordination for surveillance) at thecentral government level.