Includes bibliographical references. / This case study explores the evolution of South African policy on prevention of mother to child HIV transmission (PMTCT). It employs the advocacy coalition framework developed by Paul Sabatier to analyse the factors that have hindered and facilitated the alteration and subsequent implementation of PMTCT policy. It provides a clear illustration of the impact that actors outside of the government can have on policy change and policy implementation.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-102).

Includes bibliographical references (p. 94-104). / The HIV epidemic in South Africa is among the worst in the world with an estimated 5.7 million people living with HIV in 2007 (UNAIDS, 2008). South Africa's national education system has responded to the epidemic by introducing Life Skills HIV education across primary and secondary-level schools to promote HIV prevention, care and support among school learners. In particular, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has recommended that all teachers integrate HIV education across the curriculum. The Norms and Standards for Educators (NSE) policy document states that each pre-service teacher (PST) must meet 'community, citizenship and pastoral' practitioner roles; these roles entail student counselling, awareness and knowledge of issues impacting the community and corresponding support services, and promotion of HIV awareness in the school curriculum. HIV/AIDS education literature indicates that PST responses to teacher roles and responsibilities vary, and are often greatly influenced by the experiences PSTs bring with them into the teacher-training programme. This dissertation aimed to explore factors that shape PST identities in response to their HIV/AIDS teaching roles and responsibilities as outlined by the NSE policy document and the WCED. Research was conducted with a cohort of PSTs who attended the Post Graduate Certificate teachertraining programme at the University of Cape Town in 2007. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used with a sample group of 81 PSTs. In total, 50 PSTs were surveyed and 19 PSTs were involved in 3 focus group discussions and 15 in-depth interviews. Findings from this study indicate that PSTs bring an array of their own experience, knowledge and perceptions to the teacher-training programme which ultimately shape and contribute to the teacher identity they create in responding to HIV/AIDS teaching roles and responsibilities. Based on evidence from the study, this thesis argues that the PST's experience, knowledge and perceptions of HIV I AIDS should be considered when developing teacher-training programmes in order to promote a comprehensive and effective response to HIV through the education sector in South Africa.

The inclusion of faith-based organisations in development continues to generate debates regarding the competency of such organisations to deliver social service programs. These debates are further fuelled by the view that faith-based groups provide more effective social services than secular agencies because of their faith character. More and more, government and the development agencies are utilising these arguments to increase their funding to faith-based organisations. The consequent effect of this is the proliferation of faith-based organisations, with the scenario in Nigeria being no different. Most beneficiaries of faith-based programmes consider them an integral part of the development process. However, there is yet another dimension of this anecdote between faith groups and development-; the debates centred on the effects of faith on development outcomes, with faith groups attributing their success to the use of `faith' (the ‘faith’ hypothesis) and critics stating otherwise. Nevertheless, is there evidence that better development outcomes can be achieved through faith driven development?Utilising data from a combination of qualitative methods-interviews (key informants and others), focus group discussions and archival research and quantitative methods- a survey of selected beneficiaries of programs delivered by both secular and faith-based NGOs, this study test the 'faith' hypothesis in development outcomes and compares the organisational characteristics of faith-based and secular organisation that provide services to people living with HIV/AIDS in southern part of Nigeria. I conclude from the findings that ultimately whilst faith did contribute positively within the program and shaped development, it also served as a hindrance, excluding potential beneficiaries from participating in the programs. In addition, because of the focus of the development community on outputs rather than outcomes, these contributions of faith-based organisations were lost.