Best practices in HIV/AIDS prevention, in the informal sector

This paper is based on experiences from the ILO’s four-country study on HIV/AIDS mitigation in the informal sector. It considers “best practices” that have been identified in workplace policies and programmes on HIV/AIDS in the informal economy. It focuses especially on examples which might guide and inform practices and policies pertaining to the informal economy with regard to the following: information and awareness-raising programmes, training and behavioural change programmes, working conditions - including aspects such as travel, hygiene, childcare arrangements - counselling and testing, care and support possibilities. The paper gives an overview of good practices taken from the four countries in which the ILO informal economy research project was carried out. Quantitative and qualitative studies, including participatory rapid assessments, were carried out in Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania and South Africa. The studies were conducted (a) to gather necessary KAPB data from informal workers in the four countries and (b) to initiate participatory, community-based approaches with the aim of organising governments, local governments and local communities to implement a sustained response to the challenges of the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the informal economy.