Resources for Businesses Affected by HIV/AIDS

Below you will find a list of resources to help increase awareness of the affect HIV/AIDS has on businesses in the developing world, with a focus on Africa. Read about HIV/AIDS programs in the workplace, how African businesses are responding to the epidemic, corporate social responsibility, and the actions of organizations like USAID, the International Labor Organization, the Center for Disease Control, and the Boston University School of Public Health.

How Does HIV/AIDS Affect African Businesses?

• The HIV/AIDS Crisis: How Does HIV/AIDS Affect African Businesses? – January 2002 [PDF, 546KB]
  The spread of HIV/AIDS has resulted in the loss of profitability among African companies. Businesses and governments must protect the vast majority of workers who are uninfected, offer appropriate support and services to those who are infected, and ensure that the impact of HIV/AIDS is mitigated.
  
  
• The Private Sector and HIV/AIDS in Africa: Taking Stock of Six Years of Applied Research – January 2007 [PDF, 428KB]
  Until recently, little was known about the costs of the HIV/AIDS epidemic to businesses in Africa or about business responses to the epidemic. This paper synthesizes the results of a set of studies conducted between 1999 and 2006.
  
  
• The Cost of HIV/AIDS to Businesses in Southern Africa – January 2004 [PDF, 417KB]
  AIDS is causing labor costs for businesses in southern Africa to rise and threatens the competitiveness of African industry. Information on the potential costs of HIV/AIDS to the private sector is needed if companies are to be given a financial incentive to invest in prevention and treatment interventions.
  
  
• The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Productivity and Labor Costs in Two Ugandan Corporations – November 2004 [PDF, 451KB]
  As the cost of antiretroviral drugs and therefore highly active antiretroviral therapy falls, it becomes particularly important to quantify the costs that the employer is incurring due to AIDS infections in the work force. These costs, which could be delayed or averted by effective treatment, can then be reasonably compared with the costs of such treatment.
  
  
• The Impact of AIDS on Government Service Delivery: The Case of the Zambia Wildlife Authority – June 2007 [PDF, 282KB]
  The loss of working-aged adults to HIV/AIDS has been shown to increase the costs of labor to the private sector in Africa. There is little corresponding evidence for the public sector. This study evaluated the impact of AIDS on the costs and service delivery capacity of a government agency, the Zambia Wildlife Authority.

How are African Businesses Responding?

• Workplace HIV/AIDS Programs: An Action Guide for Managers – May 2002 [PDF, 587KB]
  Many companies recognize the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a serious threat to productivity and profitability. This guide provides practical steps for developing and implementing workplace prevention and care programs that will serve both employees and managers.
  
  
• The HIV/AIDS Crisis: How are African Businesses Responding? – January 2002 [PDF, 546KB]
  This paper addresses how African businesses are responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis. It is imperative that businesses take immediate action to lessen the economic and social consequences of HIV/AIDS. If they take action, businesses can ensure that economic initiatives will succeed in stimulating economic growth in Africa.
  
  
• The Private Sector Responds to the Epidemic: Debswana – A Global Benchmark – September 2002 [PDF, 784KB]
  Why is Botswana so badly affected by HIV/AIDS and what can be done? This UNAIDS case study describes the AIDS response of the most important company in the country – Debswana, the diamond-mining company.
  
  
• South Africa Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (SABCOHA)
  SABCOHA aims to co-ordinate a private sector response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. SABCOHA strives to help companies, both large and small, in their efforts to combat the epidemic through workplace initiatives.
  
  
• Global Business Coalition: Pan African Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (PABC)
  The mission of the PABC is to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on sustained profitability and economic growth by establishing a network of high quality information and best practices, and by building sustainable partnerships between the private sector and other stakeholders on the African sub-continent.

What Are Partner Organizations Doing to Help?

• USAID: HIV/AIDS and Business in Africa - March 2004 [PDF, 633KB]
  Since HIV/AIDS tends to affect people in their prime working ages, the spread of the disease can prevent some nations from meeting their labor needs, particularly for businesses that require workers with significant training or experience. The loss to HIV/AIDS of even one critical employee can cause a business to lose its competitiveness.

• International Labor Organization: Why AIDS Is a Workplace Issue
  AIDS is a workplace issue because it affects workers and the families, enterprises, and communities that depend on them. At the same time, the workplace has a vital role to play in the wider struggle to control the epidemic. Workplace programs support prevention, expand access to care and treatment, and promote non-discrimination. Learn more on the International Labor Organizations Web site.

• CDC National Center for Health Marketing: Global Health Communication
  The mission of the National Center for Health Marketing for Global Health Communication is to protect and promote global public health by collaborating with international partners to integrate customer-centered, science-based health marketing strategies into health communication and education programs. Learn more about their efforts on their Web site.

• Boston University School of Public Health: Role of the Private Sector in Preventing HIV/AIDS in Uganda – April 2004 [PDF, 1.2MB]
  The overall goal of the research was to determine the capacity of the private sector in Uganda to assist in fighting the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. Researchers investigated both the supply of HIV services, particularly diagnosis and treatment, and the demand for such services from employers, or formal sector employees receiving employer support.
  
  
• Boston University School of Public Health: Measuring the Impact of International Corporate Volunteering: Lessons Learned from the Global Health Fellows Program of Pfizer Corporation – September 2007 [PDF, 229KB]
  This study designed and pilot tested an evaluation toolkit to assess the impact of Pfizer’s international corporate volunteering program on partner organizations. With adaptations to adjust for different program designs, this toolkit can be useful to many public-private partnerships interested in documenting this aspect of program impact.

• Boston University School of Public Health: Corporate Social Responsibility in Global Health – March 2007 [PDF, 78KB]
  The global AIDS pandemic has created pressure for greater contributions from corporate partners to expand access to services in developing countries. Many companies have responded by making philanthropic donations of drugs and financial resources. This article describes an approach undertaken by Pfizer Corporation, which uses international corporate volunteering to build capacity for service delivery in low-resource settings.