SABCOHA aims to co-ordinate a private sector response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. SABCOHA is a member-driven organisation and, since the beginning of 2007, its membership base has seen significant growth, with several big corporates, medium-sized enterprises and smaller companies, including service providers, joining forces in the private sector initiative to combat HIV/AIDS.

New corporate members include Sapref (in July 2008), Chevron, Lonmin Platinum, Nampak, Nedbank and Nike. Medium-sized companies to have joined include Foskor, HWH Integrated Human Capital, Kaefer Thermal, Johnson Control and Sandown Motors.

New smaller company members include Lifeline, Careworks, Cell-Life, Dow Southern Africa, FNJ Events Management, Lifeline, Medworx, Pantech, Skills Factory, Sustainability Solutions Africa, TG Medical and Tomorrow Trust. They join other smaller company members, including Aid for AIDS, AIDS Unique, Institute of Health Risk Managers, Live Reality, S & N Rubber, Direct Medicines, Elixir Health, ECI Africa, Econocom Foods, Greenpath Institute of Education, Impendula Planning and Development, Inceba Co-ordinators, Matchboxology, Peleka Associates, Reality Training Concepts, Strat-Health Consultants and TIBB.

SABCOHA strives to help companies, both large and small, in their efforts to combat the epidemic through workplace initiatives. The organised business environment offers a unique opportunity to target the millions of employees affected by the pandemic.

SABCOHA’s core activities include:

• Researching, developing and sharing best practice models

• Pioneering new business initiatives

• Communicating key information

• Lobbying for change

Our vision

SABCOHA exists to mobilise and empower business in South Africa to take effective action on HIV/AIDS in the workplace and beyond.

For more information see:

• Our mission
• Background
• Funding
• Organisational structure
• Constitution
• Sub-committees
• Programmes
• Projects
• Business plan 2006-2010

Our mission

SABCOHA seeks to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on sustained profitability and economic growth by:

Ensuring that business is a key part of an integrated effective national response to HIV/AIDs.

Background

The seeds of SABCOHA were sown in 1997 after the launch of the Global Business Coalition. A few key individuals and companies perceived the need for a business response to the pandemic in South Africa and a board of governors was formed. These governors were: Clem Sunter (Anglo American), Gaby Magomola (Kgorong Investments), Leighton MacDonald (Mx Health), Nicholas Bicket (Old Mutual), Danisa Baloyi (National Black Business Caucus), Namane Magau (CSIR) and Phangisile Mtshali (Bristol Myers Squibb). The board was guided by a steering committee made up of key members of founding companies. In May 2001 the organisation was registered as a Section 21 company. Anglo American, BMW, Eskom, Metropolitan Life, Mx Health, Standard Chartered Bank and Unilever were the key founding companies.

SABCOHA’s strategic goal is to co-ordinate the South African business sector in the development of strategies through its sub-committees to create a platform for high-level advocacy and leadership. The challenge of the steering committee and its various sub-committees is to develop policies and programmes based on universal good practice that can be applied both in and outside the workplace. Membership of SABCOHA is steadily growing, with smaller businesses now joining in increasing numbers. With its main office in Johannesburg, SABCOHA has now opened offices in the Eastern and Western Cape.

Funding

In October 2007, SABCOHA received funding to the tune of $8,5-million from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of its international partners, to strengthen SMME workplace HIV responses.  The funding - $1,7-million a year for the next five years - will give a massive boost to SABCOHA's SMME-related programmes. In addition, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) funds much of SABCOHA’s operating expenses. Membership subscriptions, structured according to company size, cover the remaining costs. Other local and international donors fund specific projects.  

Organisational structure

At SABCOHA’s annual general meeting in October 2007, a new chairperson was appointed - Jackie Tau (Aspen Pharmacare) - along with several new board members; and SABCOHA’s strategic direction was endorsed.

SABCOHA is run by a CEO (Brad Mears) who reports to the Board of Governors. The board consists of representatives from member companies and other appropriate stakeholders and individuals.

New board members are Daniel Ngwepe (Anglo American), Vikashnee Harbhajan (Business Unity South Africa), Penny Mkalipe (Eskom), Jenni Gillies (SABMiller), Sipho Ngidi (Standard Bank Group) and Alex Govender (Volkswagen SA).

Constitution

SABCOHA is bound by its Articles of Association, which makes provision for a governing committee of at least five members appointed by the board. The committee’s role is to develop an agenda around business’s response to HIV/AIDS. For more details on the committee and to read SABCOHA’s constitution in full click here.

Sub-committees

Given its ability to co-ordinate, lobby, conduct research and communicate findings, SABCOHA is able to do what individual companies cannot do. It has four main areas of focus. Each is managed by a sub-committee, which meets regularly, and operates under the guidance of the constitution:

Research and quality practices

Researching the impact of HIV on business is a key role of the organisation. SABCOHA collaborates with and supports local and international research institutions and projects to this end. It also funds the annual Bureau for Economic Research survey into “The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Selected Business Sectors in South Africa". SABCOHA disseminates relevant research findings and practical company experiences to its member base and beyond. Boston University, HEARD and Wits Business School are among its key research partners.

Communication

The sharing of information, including formal research and practical workplace experience among its members is another key role of SABCOHA. Communication with members and stakeholders takes place via its website, regular meetings, workshops, breakfasts, newsletters, conferences and annual reports.

Policy and lobbying

Establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships is critical if SABCOHA is to deliver on its mandate. By articulating the collective voice of business SABCOHA can effectively influence policy, change perceptions and lobby for change. Key partners include the government, global aid organisations, health councils, chambers of commerce and academic and research organisations. For more on SABCOHA’S partners, click here

Programmes

SABCOHA’S programmes aim to empower its members and the broader community to plan for and effectively manage the impact of HIV/AIDS. Its major programmes include:

HIV/AIDS Workplace Toolkit – a comprehensive HIV/AIDS workplace programme developed with funding from the British Department for International Development (DFID) and in partnership with Standard Bank and Unilever, the toolkit gives small and medium-size employers practical steps for setting up and managing an HIV/AIDS programme. For more on the Toolkit click here.

Pan African Business Coalition - The PABC was launched in December 2005 to mobilise African business in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The formation of the PABC is part of a worldwide trend towards greater involvement of the private sector – through business coalitions – in fighting the pandemic. For more on PABC click here

Projects

SABCOHA’S projects aim to empower its members and the broader community to plan for and effectively manage the impact of HIV/AIDS. Its major projects include:

• BizAIDS – to help micro and small-sized companies reduce their operational risk and protect their businesses from threats like HIV/AIDS, SABCOHA has – in partnership with the International Executive Service Corporation , a US non-profit organisation – developed BizAIDS, a series of workshops with supportive material. For more on BizAIDS click here .

• Supply Chain Management - key to broadening the reach of private sector HIV/AIDS initiatives is extending them to supply chains. Eskom has taken the lead in this regard and SABCOHA is offering support to other companies adopting this strategy. For more information click here .

• Industry Interventions – SABCOHA is helping the development of industry-wide HIV/AIDS programmes by developing partnerships with bargaining councils. SABCOHA has been involved in HIV/AIDS initiatives with the Bargaining Council for Cleaning Industry in KwaZulu-Natal (BCCI KZN) and the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC).

• Condom Distribution Programme – public private partnerships such as Project Promote – between SABCOHA, the national Department of Health, Prestige Group and Fidelity Supercare – broaden the impact of HIV/AIDS interventions. Project Promote campaigns for the correct and consistent use of condoms across the contract cleaning industry and beyond. For more on Project Promote click here

Business Plan 2006-2010

The original Business Plan for SABCOHA was developed in May 2003. A revised business plan has been produced in response to a changed environment presenting new challenges and opportunities for SABCOHA. It is based on an in-depth review with multi-stakeholder involvement leading to an analysis of what we have accomplished and recommendations on the way forward for the next five years.

The needs, challenges and opportunities for action within business are fundamentally different for corporate, SME and micro enterprise sectors. There are also significant geographical and sectoral differences within the business community. SABCOHA must therefore develop strategies and programmes that are geared to the realities of a differentiated business sector.

In broadening our mandate in responding to this need we have addressed and clarified the internal processes we need in order to meet this challenge effectively. These include governance structures, membership involvement, resourcing and business processes.

Click here to download the:

• SABCOHA Business Plan 2006-2010