This publication is a joint venture: the cumulative result of the work of many people since the inception of the project. The project ‘team’ has included staff and consultants from UNDP (from both New York and India offices), from UNAIDS, and of course from the NGOs in India, without whose continuing participation this project would have been impossible. Through their work, they have demonstrated the relevance and validity of a highly participatory approach to HIV and development. Their support and continuing involvement has been inspiring and I thank them all.

Dr. Lyra Srinivasan is the principal author of the Toolkit. The exercises that have been adapted from the SARAR methodology were developed by her. Several Indian NGOs have pioneered training and materials in the field of HIV and Development and deserve high praise for their efforts. Dr. Srinivasan has included a number of these tools within this publication and in each instance the original source is credited.

I am especially grateful to Madhu Bala Nath who coordinated the project throughout with warmth, humour and skill; to Jacob Pfohl who patiently and conscienciously steered this publication from draft to finished product; to Ben Brown for his clear and constructive comments on a previous draft, and to Peter Gordon who took on the task of editing each version of the draft text, making invaluable contributions to its form and substance. Finally I wish to thank Brenda McSweeney, UNDP India Resident Representative / UN Resident Coordinator, and her team for their continuing support and encouragement.