The impact of HIV/AIDS on food security and livelihoods of rural communities is still insufficiently understood. Evident however is that rural development professionals need to respond to the changes that take place in rural areas due to the pandemic. This study explored competencies that they need to deal with the complex HIV/AIDS issues related to their work with farming families. 45 Overseas students of Larenstein University of Professional Education, all working in rural development, were questioned about these competencies, using case-studies and questionnaires. Supplementary data were obtained from 34 individual in-depth interviews with LAPNARD members and Zambian government staff and a focus group discussion with 15 Zambian agricultural extension workers.
The results showed that the pandemic requires a shift from technical competencies to more social competencies with regard to counseling and communication, lobbying and networking. In general, the respondents had difficulties identifying the competencies required, in relation to the changes they faced in their working environment.