ARE WE MITIGATING HIV/AIDS TRANSMISSION IN TRANSPORT PROJECTS? Gisela Geisler Principal Gender Specialist AfDB

Content of Presentation HIV/AIDS in Africa AfDBs approach to HIV/AIDS Joint Initiative by Development Agencies to Mitigate the Spread of HIV/AIDS in the Infrastructure Sectors HIV/AIDS mitigation in AfDB transport sectors Challenges Questions?

HIV/AIDS in Africa An estimated 22.5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa; Almost 90% of the 16.6 million children orphaned by AIDS live in sub-Saharan Africa; Infection rates vary between 24.8% (Botswana) and 0.7% (Mauretania); In SSA around 59% of those living with HIV are female.

AfDB approach to HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Strategy Paper (2001) Assist RMCs to develop and implement multi- sector HIV/AIDS control activities; Support UN specialized agencies; Promote political commitment and synergy; Support sector responses which promote decentralization, community participation and ownership.

AfDB approach to HIV/AIDS (cont.) Institutional capacity building; Technical assistance Support to multi-sector responses; Advocacy, partnership and alliances Operations applied: stand-alone projects in health sector, both at country and multinational levels Mainstreaming mainly in social, agriculture and transport sectors

AfDB approach to HIV/AIDS (cont.) In 2008 (MTS) strategic shift of AfDB to infrastructure, governance, private and higher education sectors; Concurrent shift to greater attention to mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in these priority sectors; In 2010 Guidelines for Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS were developed: The approach includes both external (projects) and internal (workplace) mainstreaming both in AfDB and in institutions in RMCs; As the epidemic evolves the responses must remain relevant and effective. Proposed activities must be time-bound and measurable.

AfDB approach to HIV/AIDS (cont.) Operations must consider: How the epidemic can affect the success of a project/program; How the project/program can contribute to the fight against the epidemic; Principles include: Use of existing frameworks and institutions; Continuous training/advocacy at all levels in the AfDB and in RMC; Ownership.

Joint Initiative to mitigate HIV/AIDS in the Infrastructure Sectors Signed in 2006 by WB, ADB, Afdb, DFID,JBIC, and KfW. Seeks to strengthen inter-agency cooperation in combating HIV/AIDS in Infrastructure Sector; Advocates mainstreaming approach; Considers prevention and treatment;

Joint Initiative to mitigate HIV/AIDS in the Infrastructure Sectors (cont.) Focuses on large-scale construction projects which mobilize many workers, service providers and communities; increased transport activity which might facilitate the spread of HIV infections. Calls on use of HIV/AIDS mitigation clauses in bidding documents used for large-scale civil works requiring contractors to take appropriate measures; Proposes sharing of good practice; up-scaling of initiative to include projects funded by partner governments and other development partners; Joint assessments.

HIV/AIDS Mitigation in AfDB Transport Sectors Why focus on Transport sector? Often imports large male foreign workforce; Workers have salaries to spend and are away from home; Local population is poorer and young women are vulnerable to promises of money and unable to negotiate safe sex; Long-distance truck drivers have higher HIV/AIDS prevalence rates Opens previously isolated communities

HIV/AIDS Mitigation in AfDB Transport Sectors AfDB construction projects increasingly use HIV/AIDS intervention clauses in standard tender documents for civil works include for example provisions for: sub-contracting HIV/AIDS activities to service providers approved by Road Authorities; oversight and responsibility for implementation of HIV/AIDS activities with the Road Authority; HIV/AIDS and STI awareness, prevention activities for workforce, their families and communities in the project area

HIV/AIDS Mitigation in AfDB Transport Sectors Budget for HIV/AIDS activities; A HIV/AIDS liaison committee including representatives of district government sector ministries, national AIDS committee, local leaders, women’s and youth leaders, local NGOs and CBOs and FBOs; Participatory monitoring of project impact; Action and monitoring plans; Link into ongoing activities; Training of peer educators and contractor staff; Provision of care and financial assistance to AIDS affected staff

HIV/AIDS Mitigation in AfDB Transport Sectors A number of AfDB road construction projects made provision for the preferential use of local work force and women to reduce risk of foreign workers; The Arusha-Namanga Road Project in Tanzania carries HIV/AIDS information into the classrooms of nearby schools; The Nacala Road Corridor Project in Zambia seeks to increase the impact of HIV/AIDS mitigation with gender sensitization and capacity building of community organizations. The Wacha-Maji Road Projects In Ethiopia calls for a social sector specialist in the contractor management team to dialogue with communities, also regarding HIV/AIDS prevention; One-stop border posts reduce border-crossing time.

Challenges Transport sector is not enough – branch out to other infrastructure projects; HIV/AIDS activities start too late and end too early; Contractors lack sufficient social/health expertise; HIV/AIDS activities are not sufficiently monitored by supervision consultant; Projects do not address the economic vulnerability of many women.

Questions? Questions? Can activities start before the workforce arrives? How can HIV/AIDS activities be sustained beyond construction phase? How can HIV/AIDS be mainstreamed in other sectors? Can transport sector projects address women’s economic empowerment to reduce their vulnerability to transmission?