Improving Access to Entrepreneurship and Business Management for People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA)

The two immediate objectives of this project are to improve the livelihoods of PLWHA and their families by improving access to entrepreneurship and business start-up training and to improve the entrepreneurship and business management capabilities of PLWHA by enabling them to identify business opportunities and start a business.

Project rationale

People living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) are among the most vulnerable groups in Indonesian society. Social stigmatization due to lack of understanding regarding the risks of transmission from infected persons causes many PLWHA to lose their jobs or be unable to find work to support themselves and their families. Many PLWHA cope by finding work in the informal sector, often by starting a micro or small business. Supporting the start-up of such enterprises by PLWHA and their families is therefore a valuable strategy to ease the burden faced by people infected with HIV and their household members.

Project strategy

The stated objectives will be achieved by providing Start Your Business (SYB) training to NGOs and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) which are committed to and have a solid track record on providing counselling to PLWHA.

Key partners

  • Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration
  • National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Overseas Workers (BNP2TKI)
  • Ministry of Health
  • AIDS Commission at the national, provincial and district level
  • Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo)
  • Migrant Workers’ Employment Agencies Association (APJATI)
  • Trade unions
  • Association of Medical Clinics for Indonesian Overseas Migrant Workers (Hiptek)
  • Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI)
  • Enterprises
  • Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS
  • NGOs

Achievements to date

  • 31 trainers from 16 partner organizations in 11 provinces received SYB training.
  • 47 SYB training of entrepreneurs (ToE) sessions were conducted for PLWHA and their families.
  • 589 women and 204 men took part in business start-up training.
  • 80 percent of the 115 ToE participants interviewed for the impact assessment stated that SYB training helped them to start and manage their business.
  • 71 percent of people trained rated the quality of the training as good or excellent, and 85% said that the training was relevant to their needs.

For further information please contact:

ILO Office for Indonesia and Timor-Leste
Menara Thamrin, Level 22
Jl. M.H. Thamrin Kav. 3
Jakarta 10250
Tel. +6221 3913112
Fax. +6221 3100766
Email