Business Coalitions on AIDS: Experiences from Vietnam Patrick Burke Project Coordinator: SMARTWork Vietnam Executive Director: Vietnam Business Coalition on AIDS SMARTWork (Strategically Managing AIDS Responses Together): funded by the US Dept. of Labor since September 2001; additional support under the PEPFAR program resulted in expansion in Haiti, Nigeria and Vietnam. Currently being implemented in Haiti, Nigeria and Vietnam with PEPFAR support Together with the Asia-Pacific Business Coalition (APBCA), sponsored the establishment of the Vietnam Business Coalition on AIDS

Achievements Since approval in January 2003, SMARTWork Vietnam has:- Trained and presented to over 34,000 business leaders/managers, government officials and staff, trade union delegates, enterprise-based communication officers across a total of 413 separate workshops, training activities and presentations Reached over 400,000 workers across more than 300 enterprises with prevention materials inc. handbooks, condoms, posters and through training programs at enterprise level Policy development and advocacy: worked with MoH on the Law on Prevention and Control; policies implemented at enterprise level in line with ILO Code of Conduct; alone and with MOLISA, assisted in the development of workplace HIV/AIDS prevention and management strategies within ASEAN and APEC Collaborated with other government ministries, APBCA, offices of the CPV, DANIDA- funded HIV/AIDS workplace programs for the provision of technical assistance

Expansion Expansion of the program to include three new areas: Provision of assistance to PLHA to obtain and maintain employment: Provision of assistance to former IDU employed in enterprises: piloting in Dai Viet Garments Creation of the Vietnam Business Coalition on AIDS as part of the Asia- Pacific Business Coalition on AIDS: self-sustaining body representing international and local businesses engaged in responses to HIV/AIDS

Business coalitions: pointers to success Level of commitment of enterprises; preparedness to pay membership dues/fee for service Clearly defined need for the implementation of HIV/AIDS workplace interventions The right program design: applicable, flexible, sustainable Involvement of PLHA Working across key sectors of the economy; creating strategic partnerships and bringing all partners with you

Challenges Perceptions of (a) US government-funded assistance and (b) skepticism regarding the effectiveness of workplace programs Lack of commitment of a small proportion of enterprises Rapid expansion: demand exceeds supply Channel for the application of experience from the program into the strengthening of legislation and the application of legislation needs to be strengthened Incentives for employers through fiscal measures remain neglected by government

Lessons learned With the introduction and application of a sustainable, evidence-based model for workplace HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness, business commitment for action follows; Apply the strengths of more capable partners to assist the less capable; use success stories to promote membership Key program components need to be integrated: policy development, IEC/BCC, harm reduction, condom access, creating core competencies and capacity at enterprise, trade union and government level; Model and publicise good corporate practice

What does not work? Hoping HIV/AIDS will just go away Assuming HIV affects only a certain ‘type’ of person Assuming that infection is due to sinful or morally wrong behaviour A little information about sex is too much! Infrequent prevention activities Trying to ‘catch up’ to the disease after it has made its impact Assuming a vaccine or cure is coming soon A workplace is protected because employees are not having sex with each other and no one is using drugs Assuming that prevention programs are too expensive Compulsory workplace testing