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

competitors, national banks, Bankers Associations and
NGOs. The awareness programme have now been piloted
and implemented in all 12 of the targeted countries in
Africa. The aim is to extend the awareness campaigns by
making presentations to customers and key stakeholders.
3. Results and lessons
Given that the programme is in its infancy with regards to
implementation, it is difficult to to assess the effectiveness
and impact. Monitoring systems are in place through
Country Operation Risk Assessment Returns, to be
completed on a quarterly basis.
However, there are a number of factors that Standard
Chartered Bank have identified as being important in its
response to HIV/AIDS, as described below:
1. Leadership commitment from top management
including the CEO and Directors. This was achieved at
Standard Chartered Bank through communication to
employees, including developing and disseminating
commitment through a video presentation.
2. Involvement and participation of local management in
the formulation and implementation of policies and
programmes and the use of 'champion' staff to deliver
the presentations.
3. Use of external organisations to provide expert
knowledge. For example, the use of the organisation
Business Exchange on AIDS and Development (BEAD) to
present on the impact HIV/AIDS has on business was a
crucial factor in engaging senior management in the
initial stages of policy development.
4. Establishment of the needs and priority areas for action
through extensive and participatory research. This was
necessary in order to maximise the impact where it is
most needed given limited time, money and capacities.
5. Use of appropriate material that achieves
standardisation within a multi-cultural environment.
This requires being sensitive to local culture, using
local/appropriate language and choice of visual aids, for
example, the use of a short length education video set in
Africa.

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