The project draws mostly on face-to-face, interpersonal exchanges, in the form of a series of workshops that were conducted in Africa in the course of 2003 and early 2004. Fifty participants committed themselves to attending the full series of workshops and, as a group, devised various "scenarios", which are stories that describe possible futures. The scenarios are intended to form a basis for strategic conversation - they are a method for considering potential implications of and possible responses to different events. They aim to provide a common language and concepts for thinking and talking about current events and a shared basis for exploring future uncertainties and making more successful decisions. The idea is also to help people challenge their assumptions and implicit beliefs, and look beyond their usual worldview. According to UNAIDS, "Building and using scenarios can help people and organizations to learn, to create wider and more shared understanding, to improve decision-making and to galvanize commitment and informed action."

Specifically, using a 20-year time frame, the project focuses on key questions concerning the epidemic’s impact. It asks stakeholders for examples of how HIV/AIDS will affect different generations of Africans over the next 20 years, including the generation already infected or affected, the generation that is about to become sexually active, and the new generation of those being born (which will include large numbers of children orphaned by the epidemic). The 3 scenarios that workshop participants created in this context are written in a way that (it is hoped) makes the potential future seem clear and compelling. These stories do not provide a consensus view of the future, nor are they predictions; they may describe a context and how it may change, but they do not describe the implications of the scenarios for potential users or dictate how they must respond. Supporting analysis and research for the scenarios was gathered through interviews, symposia, focused research, and commentaries.

The project is conducted in what is meant to be an open and inclusive manner with an opportunity for interaction with a wider set of stakeholders than the immediate participants, including through a web-based connection channel. To access this website, which also offers access to specific descriptions of the 3 scenarios and additional background information, click here. One of the outcomes of the project, a report, is also downloadable here; by placing it in the public domain and widely disseminating it, organisers hoped to spur broad public involvement in - and conversation about - the process.

HIV/AIDS.

The project aims to bring together divergent views and perspectives to create an informed and shared understanding of the issues involved and to help activate a broad-based response from all segments of society, with regard to HIV/AIDS care, support, treatment and prevention, as well as to contribute to the effort to overcome stigma and discrimination against people infected with HIV/AIDS. Specifically, the project aims to:

• foster a shared, deeper understanding of the drivers, impacts and consequences of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa among a wide group of stakeholders
• inform the policy response to the AIDS epidemic in Africa in order to promote effective, coherent and sustained action
• catalyse a partnership approach among key stakeholders, including the private sector and non-governmental organisations
• help shape public debate by fostering communication and understanding between different parties
• assist in effectively targeting and channelling the financial and other resources allocated to preventing and mitigating HIV/AIDS
• facilitate the application of the knowledge and capabilities developed during this project to similar processes for other world regions.