International forum on AIDS research (IFAR)

Evaluation covers the period 9/89-6/92. IFAR was established in 1988 to improve coordination and exchange of information about HIV/AIDS research in developing countries, to enable donor agencies to achieve greater complementarity, and to marshall support for high-priority HIV/AIDS research. Through personal interviews and telephone conversations with IFAR members and with IFAR staff at the Institute of Medicine, the evaluator determined that IFAR membership criteria were never clearly defined. There were no members from outside North America. IFAR members had no clearly defined financial or other obligations. IFAR staff and donor agency members of IFAR frequently disagreed and were disappointed about the agenda and/or proceedings of IFAR meetings. IFAR staff never satisfactorily completed the creation of an IFAR data base to facilitate exchange of information. IFAR meetings and activities had ceased by the time of the evaluation because WHO"s Global Program on AIDS and most other members had withdrawn support in favor of efforts to establish a more effective coordinating body through the Global Management Committee and WHO. The key lesson learned was to obtain agreement and commitment from the organizing members at the outset on membership, financing, goals, methods, and outcomes to be achieved by such a forum. (Author abstract, modified)