Mobilizing cooperatives and community-based organizations in the fight against HIV-AIDS

This project finds its justification in the efforts to strengthen the collaboration among ILO departments (ILO/AIDS, COOP, SEED and STEP) for an integrated response to HIV/AIDS, through the Interdepartmental Task Force. In order to achieve a sustainable reduction of the risk among affected workers, the project combines prevention with empowerment strategies, improving working conditions of informal workers. Cooperatives are being enabled to provide information and education to their members and surrounding communities (especially in rural areas), as well as to offer care services were possible. Small business development is being encouraged in order to reduce informal workers (especially women) vulnerabilities. This component is built on previous initiatives already implemented by ILO including capacity building for cooperatives leaders, ToT and peer education for members of cooperatives. In particular, the programme addresses cooperative potential in providing care, following lessons learnt and existing experiences. An example is the case of the Soweto Home-Based care givers cooperative, which operates as a workers’ cooperative for care workers. Their client base consists almost entirely of terminally ill patients living with HIV/AIDS and/or TB. Aside from providing care services to patients, they are educating family members on how to best care for their loved ones and keep themselves healthy. This could be a model for home-based care delivery, particularly in countries heavily infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Project symbol

RAF/05/60/SID

Admin unit

RO-Africa

Start date

01/01/2006

End date

28/02/2011

Total allocation

1326400

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

1309977

Development Partners

Sweden, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

Country/Countries

Africa - regional

Outcomes

HIV/AIDS