USAID - Guyana HIV/AIDS Reduction and Prevention (GHARP) Project Private Sector Advisory Board on HIV/ AIDS

Objectives:

1. Establish and build a sustainable coalition of private sector organizations engaged in HIV/AIDS prevention and reduction activities in Guyana
2.  Provide private sector partners an opportunity to share best practices with each other (such as in-house education and training, peer education programs, workplace policies, communication programs that promote sensitivity towards people living with HIV/AIDS, and training programs/material).
3. Provide opportunity for the Board to link with and learn from other regional and global organizations who are leading the way in private sector activities and programs that help reduce HIV/AIDS in the workplace and community
4.  Establish an Annual Awards Program that will recognize achievements of the private sector's efforts to help reduce and prevent HIV/AIDS in the workplace and community.
5.  Serve as a conduit for private sector partners to support a variety of efforts to help reduce and prevent HIV/AIDS in Guyana, such as support for HIV/AIDS media and events, orphans and vulnerable children, persons living with HIV/AIDS, etc.

Date Established:

May 30, 2006

Organization Structure:

(a) A Coordinating Committee constituted by the Chairs and vice chairs of the working groups (Sub-committees) and five other elected members,
(b) Three Workgroups responsible for; Membership & Sustainability, Workplace Programs, and Private Sector Awards, respectively.

Workgroups:

Workplace Programs Workgroup

This work group focuses on ways private sector organizations can share their experience and best practices with each other in an effort to improve and maximize the effectiveness of their workplace programs, including:

- In-house education and training related to HIV/AIDS prevention and reduction;
- Development and implementation of in-house peer education committees;
- In-house behaviour change programs, events and activities;
- Development and implementation of in-house HIV/AIDS policies;
- Methods of linking employees to HIV/AIDS programs and services, such as volunteer counselling and testing and referrals for treatment, access to condoms, etc.

Private Sector Awards Workgroup

This workgroup focuses on implementing an annual award program to recognize private sector partners who have made outstanding contributions to the community in areas related to HIV/AIDS, as well as those who have made outstanding strides in developing effective in-house programs through strong management support and employee engagement, etc. The committee has:

- Developed criteria and categories for the First Annual HIV/AIDS Awards Program (held in March 2007, in partnership with USAID/GHARP and the Ministry of Health).
- Helped identify appropriate judges and developed a transparent process for selection
- Helped support the planning of the Awards Event.

Membership/Sustainability Workgroup

This workgroup focuses on ways to increase membership on the advisory board (and thus the number of companies engaged in workplace programs), through networking, referrals, presentations from existing committee members, etc. The group will also focus on identifying and securing resources from other organizations and donors to "grow" the Committee into a self-sustaining body (i.e. The Guyana Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, which could bring together, over time, all relevant government agencies, NGOS and other donors involved in HIV/AIDS Private Sector/Workplace programs in Guyana

Number of Members:

Products and Services Offered:

1. Provide members access to workplace training and technical assistance in developing workplace policies
2. Link members’ employee’s linkages to HIV/AIDS services, such as volunteer counselling and testing, care and treatment.
3. Create platforms and venues for members to contribute to community efforts such as assisting orphans and vulnerable children and persons living with HIV/AIDS. Also provide members opportunities to engage in media and community awareness events and programs that highlight their organizations’ positive contributions in their workplace and community.
4. Provide members other opportunities to be recognized for their efforts, such as the Annual HIV/AIDS awards program, which honors organizations and individuals who contribute in areas such as individual leadership, workplace, etc.
5. Through involvement with the Board, members also have a venue to share best practices with each other, as well as link with other regional and international organizations working to help prevent, reduce HIV/AIDS in the workplace.

Within a year and a half, the group now includes 43 organizations, which makes it one of the largest and most robust coalitions in the Caribbean, and will be represented at the upcoming Pan Caribbean Business Coalition event in Trinidad in June 2007.  Following the Trinidad meeting, the USAID/GHARP Private Sector Advisory Board will reorganize itself as the Guyana Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS and will continue to seek out and partner with regional and international organizations to help grow and sustain their efforts in the future.

Relationships with Other Organizations:

Close Working Relationship with the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), PANCAP and the Pan Caribbean Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS.

Main Contact:

Mr. Derrick A. Cummings

Phone:

592-231-6311 Ext 247

E-mail:

>>View a detailed description of the USAID/GHARP Advisory Board