SSRC

The HIV incidence rate in the Papua region of Eastern Indonesia is increasing since 2000. This research will focus on one of the potential causes for this increase, namely the ways in which local government and electoral reform have impacted on local economic and social development patterns. This local government reform in the form of decentralisation has been implemented across Indonesia since 2001. The decentralisation process has impacted on employment and migration patterns, which can give an explanation for the increased HIV incidence rate. Furthermore the electoral reform has led to a reallocation of funds for electoral purposes at the cost of local health and education budgets which also increases the risk of HIV infection. This study aims to explore this link between the government reforms and the increased HIV incidence in the Papua region. The outcome of this study can have important consequences for current development policies, including governance and health programmes.