Serving Communities and Vulnerable Populations throughout the Caribbean Region Accelerating the Private Sector Response to HIV&AIDS

Serving Communities and Vulnerable Populations throughout the Caribbean Region Introduction -Accelerating the involvement of the private sector in the HIV response -Project implemented in Jamaica and Barbados -Target audience: formal and informal tourism sector -Funded by Department for International Development, United Kingdom -Primary objective to strengthen involvement of the private sector in partnership with vulnerable communities -AIDInc collaborating partner in Barbados

Serving Communities and Vulnerable Populations throughout the Caribbean Region HIV and AIDS and Tourism -Tourism contributes 58.3% of entire workforce in Barbados and 52% of total GDP -Second highest earner of foreign exchange, contributing 10% of total GDP in Jamaica -Boxhill et al study: 17% tourists in Jamaica had sex with locals and sex workers during their stay -Tourism industry susceptibility to HIV: High numbers of male and female sex workers Limited access to VCT Mobility of workers Sex tourism

Serving Communities and Vulnerable Populations throughout the Caribbean Region Implementing partners and beneficiaries CHAA provided funding to 17 sub-projects in Barbados and Jamaica Bridging private/NGO partnerships critical for multi-sectoral response Beneficiaries included formal and informal workers as well as MSM, SWs and tourists. Project activities: prevention; workplace policies; reducing S&D; increasing the leadership of tourism executives; building capacity of tourism private sector and NGOs

Serving Communities and Vulnerable Populations throughout the Caribbean Region Results and Outcomes

Serving Communities and Vulnerable Populations throughout the Caribbean Region

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES Process of development of HIV and AIDS Responsible Tourism models – sustainable best practice models for various stakeholders

Serving Communities and Vulnerable Populations throughout the Caribbean Region Tools produced -Educational material for the reduction of stigma and discrimination -DVD and posters focusing on peer education among youth -Peer Educators training manuals -Advocacy DVD to foster leadership among tourism leaders -Workplace toolkits on HIV and AIDS Policy development -Condom social marketing kits -Curriculum of HIV and AIDS training course in tourism vocational institutions

Serving Communities and Vulnerable Populations throughout the Caribbean Region

Unique experiences contd. -Partnership building necessary to transfer skills and sustain linkages -Visible demonstration of private sector leadership helps reduce stigma and discrimination -Building financial and programmatic capacity with participating private sector and NGOs -Private sector entities have greater confidence to work with vulnerable groups

Serving Communities and Vulnerable Populations throughout the Caribbean Region Unique experiences - cont’d -Leadership and Empowerment of vulnerable groups: leadership skills, self esteem and self confidence developed through mentoring and training

Serving Communities and Vulnerable Populations throughout the Caribbean Region Lessons Learnt -Private sector largely unaware of the work being done by community, public and private sector in the HIV response -Imperative to target influential leaders/advocates within the private sector and seek their commitment to the response -Leveraging of other business leaders and helps address stigma and discrimination -Workplace programmes promote uptake of prevention, testing and treatment

Serving Communities and Vulnerable Populations throughout the Caribbean Region Lessons learnt cont’d -Making the link between the workplace and community continuum is key -Working with diverse groups contributed to more targeted interventions -Large investment of time to build successful partnerships among groups with no prior work history -Collaboration with the private sector can take varied forms e.g. advocacy, programmes, fundraising support or in-kind contributions

Serving Communities and Vulnerable Populations throughout the Caribbean Region Plans for the future -Field-test, validate, and disseminate Responsible tourism models and tools regionally -Explore feasibility for uptake in other private sector industries -Seek the support of our regional partners gathered here for wider implementation -Contact: THANK YOU!