Jamaica 4-6 June, 2009

1. Jamaica 4-6 June, 2009 Ministerial Meeting on HIV and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean ECOSOC Annual Ministerial ReviewChallenges of HIV as a Development Concern and the LAC Response

2. Background: • The HIV/AIDS epidemic poses a real threat to Caribbean nations due to … • “free movement of people” under the CSME • migratory trends of Caribbean people, and • The increasing number of regional tourists and business travelers • The Caribbean private sector is being engaged as a resource for supplementing and promoting HIV/AIDS initiatives in the region • A Pan Caribbean Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS was established in 2005 • The goal of the Coalition is to contribute to the reduction in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the specific objectives are: • 1. support implementation of appropriate Workplace Policies • 2. encouraging the development of National Business Coalitions, • 3. bring private sector expertise to bear on initiatives within the national expanded response to HIV/AIDS.

3. How the cost of HIV AIDS reduces revenue and profit of an Enterprise Increased Absenteeism Increased staff turnover Loss of Skills Loss of tacit knowledge Declining morale Insurance Cover Increasing demands for training and recruitment HIV/AIDS in the country Retirement Funds Health & Safety Medical Assistance Declining markets, labour pool, suppliers Declining intellectual capital Reduced Foreign Direct Investment Funeral Costs Declining re-investment Declining reliability Declining productivity Increased Costs Declining Profits Source: UNAIDS (adapted by ILO)

4. Current concerns and intersts to respond to the HIV/AIDS challenge • HIV is one of two health priority areas for the private sector- the other being NCDs. • Is there a discernable approach underlying the different interventions and how effective are the intervention strategies? • The strengths and weakness of the private sector and HIV/AIDS interventions • What additional private sector actions can be pursued to combat the spread of the pandemic? • What support are the private sector coalitions receiving from other partners?

5. Private Sector Interventions & Programmes • The majority of private sector organizations/coalitions are linked to National AIDS Programmes • Private sector policies and strategies to inform HIV/AIDS programme evolve around employee intervention, prevention, stigma and discrimination • Private sector relationships with national and regional programmes range from policy to financial assistance • Education campaigns in different forms are the main activities of the private sector programmes • an array of HIV/AIDS related programmes and projects • information dissemination/workshops/capacity building exercises • media and communication work • Support and guidance to the private sector organizations are received from PANCAP/ILO/WORLD BANK et al • National Business Coalitions have been established in Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago

6. How has the private sector fared …? Strengths • Some organizations have a coherent approach to tackling HIV/AIDS - a well articulated multi pronged approach to work place programmes • HIV/AIDS is now appearing o the agenda of most private sector organization. • There is a sustained/definitive focus of private sector organization on HIV/AIDS • Private sector recognizes the need to allocate sufficient resources to ensure an effective approach to its HIV work programme as one of its internal organizational matters. Weaknesses • A majority of private sector organizations do not have HIV/AIDS programmes • Private sector responses to the challenges posed by HIV are inadequate • HIV/AIDS is not the direct focus of private sector programmes • Intervention is limited to general workplace policy • Interventions need more coordination • A majority of the private sector do not have coherent strategies and programmes

7. Private Sector Commitment is still there!! • It welcomes the unique contribution and insights that people living with HIV can bring to its work, both as staff and as partner organizations and collaborators. • It is generally opposed to any form of discrimination on the basis of HIV status and seeks to ensure this is implemented in its employment policy and work programme. • It seeks to ensure that staff acquire the competence and resources to respond to the challenges posed by HIV in their professional work and personal lives as appropriate to specific circumstances and context. • Corporate commitment to HIV as a priority concern applies to all staff as appropriate to their area of work. . • HIV must be understood as a priority development issue and not stay as a health concern.

8. Medium Term Plan • Caribbean HIV Response Goal • Reduce the prevalence and incidence of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean. • Business Sector Development Goal • The Caribbean is considered a strategic region for investment in both human and financial capital. Maintain and enhance the attractiveness of the Caribbean region for investment in both human and financial capital • Strategic Objective of Business Coalition • Healthy workforce available to contribute their talent and skills to the growth and development of business sector and to the reduction of prevalence and incidence of HIV. • Specific Objectives • HIV sensitive workplace policies developed and in action in large and medium enterprises. • Caribbean managers and employees knowledgeable about HIV and taking steps to know their HIV status. • Human rights approach to HIV-related issues affecting workers adopted by all concerned. • Private sector contributing their management, marketing and other technical expertise to National HIV/AIDS Response.

9. Medium Term Plan: Strategies • Use of model policies and generic tools: • Information & Knowledge Sharing: • Advocacy: • Partnerships: • The Pan Caribbean Executive Forum on HIV/AIDS is critical in ensuring sustained leadership at the highest levels.

10. Medium Term Plan: Beneficiaries • HIV infected employees & potential employees including those not knowing their status) • Employers also benefit • The Private Sector • The Countries

11. The future • We must seek to promote a more holistic response incorporating health, social, economic, legislative, psychological dimensions. In this regard, the private sector response will be informed by proven, evidence based reports. • Ownership by the private sector is essential for long-term effectiveness i.e. engaging in identifying , designing, planning, implementing and reviewing workplace initiatives • No single organization can address the challenge of HIV on its own. The magnitude and complexity of the pandemic require organizations to work and collaborate as part of a multi sectoral response

12. Thank You