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“The only thing necessary for these diseases to the triumph is for good people and governments to do nothing.”

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The Private Sector and HIV/AIDS 
       www.norad.no/default.asp?FILE=items/2837/116

 Continue to Part 2

Guidelines on Issues and Responses

These guidelines contain a short general introduction followed by a set of checklists to be used in contacts with private sector institutions and actors, such as chambers of commerce, and national or regional business organisations. The aim is to integrate HIV/AIDS aspects in private sector development co-operation and identify possible responses to the epidemic. 

1.    When and Why Should This Guideline Be Used?

In HIV/AIDS affected countries the epidemic will have potentially serious implications for the private sector. In order to avoid negative effects, a number of questions need to be raised during preparation, monitoring and evaluation of development co-operation projects within the private sector. The checklist is not a blueprint, it should be adapted to each particular setting and used selectively. Local knowledge and experience should inform the selection of questions. The answers to the questions should help the programme officer to:

·           analyse how HIV/AIDS affects development cooperation involving the private sector.

·           identify possible responses that can be integrated into ongoing and planned interventions.

Raising the questions is also a means to enhance awareness of HIV/AIDS among counterparts

2. Strategic Framework

Sida’s strategy on HIV/AIDS (Investing for Future Generations), identifies four strategic goals. These goals provide a useful framework. When analysing interrelations between the private sector and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, programme officers should be aware of the gender and equity dimensions. It is important that international experiences and best practices of private sector involvement in HIV/AIDS related activities are propagated, and that co-operation and exchanges between private sector organisations in different countries in this field is encouraged.

Addressing immediate causes

Addressing immediate effects

Prevention of HIV/AIDS:

·       HIV/AIDS information (staff & clients)

·       Provision of condoms (staff)

·       Control of STDs

 

Recruitment, care and support:

·         Recruitment of extra staff

·         Provision of HIV testing and counselling

·         Provision of care & support for AIDS sick staff and their families.
Addressing underlying causes
Addressing long-term effects

Limit worker separation from family:

·       Prioritising local recruitment of workers

·       Facilitating accommodation for workers’ families close to the work place

·       Providing workers with possibilities for regular visits to their families

Training and change of benefits

·         Training extra staff (where relevant)

·         Multi-skilling &, task sharing (where relevant)

·         Changing conditions for pensions and sickness benefits

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3. Interrelations between HIV/AIDS and the Infrastructure Sector

The main problem is the loss of labour force due to AIDS, particularly the loss of highly trained and experienced staff, affecting costs and productivity. Other more indirect effects include falling demand, negative business climate, falling international investments and tourism. The private sector may also be seriously affected by the negative impact of HIV/AIDS on government finance and on the performance of public services and administration. All planning, implementation and monitoring of development cooperation related to the private sector in affected countries and regions therefore have to consider how they may prevent HIV/AIDS, and deal with its effects.

4. Issues of Concern and Possible Responses

The following lists of questions focus on different HIV/AIDS related issues and indicate possible response alternatives.

Situation and Policy

It is necessary to have a general picture of the HIV/AIDS situation in the country or region. It is also important to find out the views of counterparts and other private sector organisations concerning the state of the epidemic and the existence of HIV/AIDS-related policies in this field.

·          What is known about the HIV/AIDS situation in the country or region (adult HIV prevalence and for different groups, AIDS mortality etc) and how is it likely to unfold?

·          Is HIV/AIDS perceived as a problem by private sector institutions? In what way?

·          Is there an open discussion and concern about HIV/AIDS within national private sector organisations? What can be done to further encourage this discussion?

·          Do counterparts or other private sector institutions have policies and/or strategies on HIV/AIDS issues? Regarding staff? Regarding customers? Regarding suppliers? Regarding the general community?

Awareness and Prevention

Private sector activities may be compromised by high rates of HIV/AIDS. Information is needed on how staff, customers, suppliers, and the surrounding community can avoid HIV-infection and gain access to practical prevention measures, such as condoms. Private institutions may need to consider the inclusion of HIV prevention components in their programmes, or liase with existing services and programmes. Co-operating Swedish private sector organisations and individual businesses will need to raise their level of awareness.

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·       What is the level of HIV/AIDS awareness in the country or region and in different groups (e.g. general population, youth, in firms of different sizes, private sector organisations, unions)?

·       How can private sector institutions contribute towards awareness raising at a reasonable cost?

·       Are HIV/AIDS components integrated in private sector organisation competence development programmes and other regular staff training? How can such activities be encouraged?

·       What is done or can be done regarding HIV/AIDS through national private sector organisations?

·       How can the outreach channels and experiences of private sector institutions be used for HIV/AIDS information and education? How can such activities be encouraged?

·       Are there any HIV/AIDS related activities (projects, information campaigns etc) at national or regional level that private sector institutions could link up with? How can such co-operation be encouraged?

·       What are the obstacles for private sector organisations to introduce HIV/AIDS prevention activities targeting staff, member firms, customers, suppliers and the general community?

·       Do private sector organisations co-operative with unions on HIV/AIDS related issues? How can such co-operation be encouraged?

·       Have counterpart organisations formed partnerships with HIV/AIDS organisations regarding HIV/AIDS information or prevention activities? How can such partnerships be encouraged?

·       What is the level of HIV/AIDS awareness in co-operating Swedish private sector organisation and individual firms? How can they be encouraged to obtain relevant information?

Discrimination

Discrimination and stigma are among the nastier effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which may also effect the work atmosphere and productivity. In severely affected areas, private institutions may therefore need to take action to counteract discrimination within the workplace.

·       Do private sector organisations sensitise management and staff to countereffect stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS within the workplace? Can these activities be encouraged?

·       Do private sector organisations encourage and support that HIV+ employees continue working?

·       Do private-sector organisations in severely affected areas hire HIV+ persons with suitable skills? If not, what are the obstacles?

Impact on staff

 When staff or their family members fall ill and die in AIDS the costs for private sector institutions will increase and productivity fall as a result of increased absenteeism, loss of experienced staff, and additional costs  (e.g. for medical care, burials, and support to dependants, recruitment and training of new staff)

·          Have counterpart organisations analysed vulnerability of their production due to AIDS, such as sickness and loss of staff at different levels?

·          Have counterpart organisations assessed the costs related to sickness and death of staff in AIDS?

·          Are counterpart organisations aware of institutional or organisational auditing as a tool to analyse vulnerability to AIDS, and are these services available? If not, can they be facilitated through support to training programmes?

·          Have private sector organisations introduced responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic such as e.g. budget contingencies to cover extra costs, training of extra staff; multi-skilling; task-sharing; reduction of hierarchical constraints to team work; decentralisation of decision making; reduction or other changes of contractual pension, sickness and other benefits.

·          Does the private sector co-operate with the public sector to meet the increased demand for trained personnel? How can such co-operation be encouraged?

Impact of Customers

With an increasing number of customers and their family members falling ill in AIDS, or having their incomes affected by the epidemic in other ways, (e.g. by taking care of orphans or ill relatives) possibilities to consume goods and services will decrease and consequently demand will fall. (The same reasoning is relevant for firms and public customers.) Some business sectors, such as in the field of health and insurance, will  (potentially) experience an increased demand.

·       Have private sector institutions assessed the impact of AIDS on their customers?

·       Have private sector institutions detected changing demand for some kinds of goods and services that can be attributed to AIDS? Which sectors are most affected? What responses have been introduced? Have they been evaluated?

 

Continue to Part 2