How to join

A new benchmark has been set for public-private partnerships in the fight against HIV and AIDS, following the signing of a landmark memorandum of understanding between InWEnt Capacity Building International - Germany, the Eastern Cape Aids Council, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation and SABCOHA.

The memorandum was signed on 10 June 2008. The initiative was launched as a direct response to a need identified by the Eastern Cape partners. It was found that although bigger companies were making inroads into the fight against HIV and AIDS through workplace programmes, it was the under-resourced small, medium and micro enterprise sector that was most in need.

The Eastern Cape Aids Council (ECAC) and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) approached SABCOHA, which came with a national perspective and project management expertise, and InWEnt, the international capacity building expert that runs similar projects throughout the developing world.

A number of service providers in Eastern Cape were trained by InWEnt, the capacity-building partner in the project. They received intensive world-class training and receive on-going coaching and support. The project aims to train the managers of SMEs in the Mthatha, East London, Queenstown, and Port Elizabeth areas. This programme is targeted towards the construction, agricultural, cleaning, security, tourism, and automotive sectors.

The ECAC and ECDC are helping to identify suitable companies to train. After the initial training, these companies will be given a year-long support programme to ensure sustainability of the workplace initiatives.

These include ongoing information and education campaigns, condom distribution, policy development, and integrated monitoring and evaluation. Where the SME conditions and infrastructure allow, SABCOHA is able to offer VCT and ARV treatment to employees of these SMEs.

"We hope that the strategic partnership entered into by these organisations will assist in breaking new ground in the fight against HIV and AIDS," said Brad Mears, the CEO of SABCOHA, on signing the memorandum. "I hope that this signals a good example of a public-private partnership that works and that should be replicated in other provinces."

Organisations interested in participating can contact the project team:

• Sabcoha / InWEnt representative: Hugo Canham (project manager) 011 8804821. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• ECAC representative: Nomonde Hlatshaneni. Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• ECDC representative: Vuyo Hleko. Email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it