Using agricultural economics to strengthen nongovernmental organizations' food security programs for people living with HIV/AIDS: An example from Honduras

Nongovernmental organization (NGO) food assistance programs offer an arena where agricultural economists might make a contribution to the design and implementation of more effective programs involving food assistance to address the challenge posed by HIV/AIDS. One such program is the Interinstitutional Alliance for the Improved Nutrition of People Living with HIV/AIDS (IMANAS) project in Honduras. The primary objective of the project, launched in 2003, is to improve the care and support of people living with HIV/AIDS through the development of a pilot model of nutritional supplementation. Although still a pilot effort involving a small number of households and participants, the project demonstrates the feasibility of a food supplementation program aimed at improving the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).