The Business Response to HIV/AIDS: Impact and lesson learned

MTV Network International have recently taken a lead through their CEO, Bill Roedy, who is acting
as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS. Central to these activities is the partnerships with NGOs
and intergovernmental organisations for mutual assistance and advice in facilitating this advocacy
work.
5. LESSONS FROM THE BUSINESS RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS
Within all the areas of action on HIV/AIDS by business, be it related to core activities, business
partners, communities or advocacy, a number of key lessons were consistently identified within the
questionnaires completed by the profiled companies within this report, as shown in Figure 9. One
central lesson was the crucial role of partnerships between business and other businesses, NGOs,
governmental and intergovernmental organisations, in ensuring effective responses. The next section
seeks to identify the ways in which successful partnerships on HIV/AIDS can be established and
maintained.
FIGURE 9 Key lessons from business experience in responding to HIV/AIDS
1. Ensure a committed leadership (CEO, Board and management) and understanding at all levels of the
workforce, particularly through demonstrating the business case for addressing HIV/AIDS.
2. Develop initiatives that match the company's core business skills and technical expertise with the needs of
the target audience.
3. Engage in a multi-pronged approach to ensure real effectiveness, to go beyond the workplace and address
issues within the local community.
4. Demonstrate the business costs and benefits and human resource implications of HIV/AIDS initiatives.
5. Undertake a consultative approach with all stakeholders, particularly with the involvement of people
living with HIV/AIDS, to ensure that initiatives are appropriately directed and to allow for prioritisation.
6. Enter into partnerships with NGOs and governmental and intergovernmental organisations to provide the
necessary expertise and knowledge of HIV/AIDS issues and to enable the scaling-up of responses.
7. Involve the use of peer educators/leaders from the target groups in the dissemination of education and
prevention information.
8. Utilise low cost creative tools to ensure sustainability and replicability.
9. Undertake continual monitoring, and review the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS initiatives, with a willingness to
adapt the programmes accordingly.

1. Battat, J et al (1996), "Suppliers to Multinationals: Linkage Program to Strengthen Local Companies in Developing
Countries", Foreign Investment Advisory Service, Occasional Paper 6, IFC and World Bank.

30 THE BUSINESS RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS: Impact and lessons learned