WORKSHOP - PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT IN GLOBAL FUND GRANT IMPLEMENTATION

The May 11, 2018the National Coordinating Committee for projects financed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (NCC) organized a workshop on theinvolvement of the private sector in the implementation of Global Fund grants.

This workshop was held at the AOGC conference room in Brazzaville from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and brought together representatives of about thirty Unicongo member companies, private clinics, civil society NGOs and international partners who provide technical and financial support to Congo in the fight against the three diseases.

The objectives of this workshop were to strengthening the SCC-private sector partnership in the fight against the three diseases, and more specifically, the to take stock of the private sector's of the private sector's involvement, redefining redefining the role of the of the private sector in the fight against the three diseases and the the three diseases, and the establishment of a partnership framework between SCC and the private sector.

As a reminder, it was in September 2005 that a program to fight HIV/AIDS in the workplace was launched with twenty (20) companiesThe program was launched in September 2005 with 20 companies, based on the ILO's 2001 practical guidelines on HIV/AIDS and the world of work, thanks to the dynamic partnership created between SEP-CNLS and Unicongo. This program has allowed SEP-CNLS to accompany the private sector in the process of raising awareness about the three diseases, promoting voluntary HIV testing, training peer educators and formulating specific policies and programs to fight HIV/AIDS in companies. From 2007 to 2008, Unicongo's strong commitment led to the recruitment of a private sector consultant with World Bank funding. This consultant was housed at the Union's offices in Brazzaville and was responsible for assisting Unicongo members as well as other private and public companies in the development and implementation of the policy and action plan to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. In 2012, 41 companies from all sectors benefited from the consultant's assistance throughout the national territory.

For many years, several Union member companies have been implementing a very sustained program to fight AIDS. This is the case of Brasco, whose presentation of its rich experience and good practices by Dr. SIANARD, the company doctor, was very well appreciated by all the participants.

At the end of the presentations on the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and how it is financed, the responsibilities, composition and functioning of the NAC, the role of the private sector within the NAC, and the rich discussions that followed, the following recommendations were made

1. Designation of a focal point in each company involved focal point for the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and the establishment of a network;
2. Collection of all the experiences and best practices of companies in the fight against the three diseases;
3. Strengthening the communication system to businesses about SCC activities, especially for the benefit of the labour community;
4. Study of the opportunities for the recruitment of a new consultant for the private sector.

This workshop ended to the general satisfaction of the participants, who wished for a renewal of this experience.