Partnerships - Private Sector - Strategy - examples from HIV/AIDS

Corporate Response to HIV/AIDS

This was a study of the responses of 203 companies in 14 countries to the issue of HIV/AIDS - including the mobilisation of the communication capacities of those companies.

Outlines the links that major multi-national companies make between their prime activities and the impact on HIV/AIDS that can come from a connection to those services and products.

Specific activities mentioned include: employee training; media campaigns; communication materials; public advocacy; support to communication groups; use of internal communications such as company newsletters.

Covers 203 companies - 5 examples of which include - Glaxo; Digital; Levi Strauss; Guinness; and Apple.

73.1% of responding companies have AIDS related programmes.

45.3 % of the companies developed and/or issued communication materials.

Other communication related activities included education and training [45.3%]; counseling [41.4%]; Employee task forces [10.8%].

Most common reasons to address HIV/AIDS are welfare of employees with HIV; general safety and disease prevention; and legal implications.

Impact of activities

Only 4 companies indicated that they could determine a return on their investment in HIV/AIDS related activities Most companies indicated that the company benefited from reduced health care costs; improved public image, and increased sales.

Overall companies felt that their HIV/AIDS related initiatives had a positive impact on employees commitment to the company [52.1% of respondents] and attitudes [66.7%].

Examples

Apple Computer: Established a new nationwide computer network designed to service the needs of hundreds of agencies and thousands of individuals related to HIV/AIDS.

Body Shop: Campaigns publicly on HIV/AIDS issues; works with suppliers in developing countries; works on campaigns with key NGOs; distributes awareness materials; supports developing country suppliers to create HIV/AIDS programmes.

Chevron: Supplies clean needles to hospitals in Angola.

Guinness: Developed world-wide employee protection and education programmes with special attention to Africa, other countries in the developing world and to country managers. Developed education pack for employers and employees in Asia-Pacific Region.

Johnson and Johnson: Product to Give: produce one-third of certain products solely t serve the needs of international agencies - including ones active in HIV/AIDS.

Levi Strauss: Marketing function directly supports HIV/AIDS fundraising and educational activities globally - eg the photo history of HIV/AIDS sufferers; undertakes lobbying and public advocacy on HIV/AIDS issues.