08-X1408: ILO/USDOL Trade Union HIV/AIDS Project

In support of the national response, the ILO has taken initial steps to assist the tripartite constituents in

Botswana to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive workplace response. In 2004, the ILO assisted the

Ministry of Labor and Home Affairs (MLHA) to develop a national policy on HIV/AIDS and Employment;

adhering to the principles and guidelines laid out in the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS in the World of

Work. A selected number of enterprises were also assisted to develop and implement workplace policies

and programs. Activities at enterprise level included among others the training of Peer Educators and

development of targeted behavior change communication materials.

Building on the anticipated achievements of the recently initiated FYO7 PEPFAR funded initiative targeting

10 Trade Unions, the FYO8 project will expand to 10 more Trade Unions. Currently there are 51 registered

Trade Unions, and with the advent of the new labor laws allowing for the unionization of public officers, the

number is expected to rise. Although Unions represent workers from different sectors, they are organized

under an umbrella body - the Botswana Federation of Trade Unions. Their total membership is estimated up

to 65,000.

For this funding period, the project aims at further building capacity among unions, to set up structures that

will enable members to exchange information on HIV and AIDS; encourage members to go for counseling

and other HIV-related services; and encourage correct and consistent condom use, partner reduction, and

other risk reduction behaviors. The proposed FY08 project activities are as follows:

ILO will conduct workshops to develop broad scale commitment from sectoral level union leaders

(approximately 6 leaders from each of the 10 unions) on the key principles of the ILO Code of practice and

the national policy on HIV/AIDS and Employment. ILO will have facilitated an umbrella Trade Union policy

over the next 12 months, and in this funding period, they will continue to assist dissemination of that

umbrella policy and work with 10 unions to develop their own HIV/AIDS strategic plans. Part of this process

involves encouraging the Unions to develop their own budget contributions to the seed money provided by

ILO for their HIV/AIDS initiatives. In addition Unions will be encouraged to go into joint-partnerships with

employers. Co-funding will not only help cushion the financial costs of both parties but be a demonstration

of leadership commitment.

In order to reach many of its members with basic peer-led HIV/AIDS education and outreach, the 10

Botswana Trade Unions and ILO will select and train approximately 8-12 focal persons per union to be peer

educators, using the GOB Peer Education curriculum for workplace settings. To support these peer

educators, ILO will place 4 project officers in the mother trade union body, Botswana Federation of Trade

Union. They will assist with support, supervision, and monitoring of activities.

To complement the peer education program, ILO will also introduce "SOLVE" to this cadre of peer

educators. SOLVE is new initiative developed by ILO and aimed at addressing psychosocial problems at

work all under one comprehensive workplace wellness program. As an acronym SOLVE stands for Stress,

Tobacco, Alcohol, HIV/AIDS and Violence. Currently ILO is updating SOLVE to address other interrelated

psychosocial problems such as sleep deprivation, lack of regular exercise, lack of good nutrition, cyber

addiction etc. The SOLVE trainings will expand the knowledge of the peer educators to address a wider

range of important health issues and provide additional skills to implementing a range of workplace-based

activities, such as health fairs and support groups. ILO anticipates that the 120 educators will each reach

approximately 200 people, for a total of approximately 20,000 people who will ultimately benefit.

ILO also will conduct a formative assessment to establish the key issues and interests within the different

Union membership as related to HIV/AIDS prevention, care, treatment, and support programs. The

assessment will be a simple survey done with small groups and other key informant interviews, something

to help develop IEC materials. Based on the findings of the assessment, ILO and the Trade Unions will

develop information, education, and communication materials and messages to use through various

channels in the Union infrastructure (posters, pamphlets, monthly campaign themes, etc. for use by peer

educators and others).