Systems Support, in practice, entails diverse activities. ‘Feedback' of research results to research participants and relevant government and non-government agencies are usually the first step towards identifying further avenues for collaboration with those agencies.

Partnership agreements with government departments are another means; they provide a foundation for the departments to identify their needs, be it targetted research, technical assistance or training. HEARD's ‘knowledge advancement and education' agenda is a more general form of support. In sum, there is no set form. The support work is governed by context and the changing needs of agencies that do practical HIV/AIDS interventions.

In South Africa, research runs in tandem with HEARD's commitment to strengthening relations with government departments and NGOs. For example, HEARD maintains ongoing interaction with the Department of Social Development at local, provincial and national level, and has held dialogue for many years with the Departments of Health in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumulanga, and with the Department of Education in Amajuba District and at provincial level. The nature of these relationships varies according to the nature of the research and systems support work; for instance, in Amajuba District, HEARD works closely with various municipal departments in a collaborative effort to develop a District-level child welfare management plan.