The project is funded by United Nations Central Fund for Influenza Action. The Central Fund for Influenza Action (CFIA) is a multi-donor trust fund (MDTF) that enables donors to pool their resources and rapidly provide funding for urgent unfunded and under-funded priority actions. It complements other funding mechanisms that may be used by a Government and United Nations (UN) organizations.

The project has three phases:

• Phase I – Avian and Human Influenza in the Workplace (01 July 2007 – 31 January 2009)
• Phase II – Livelihoods Support for Avian and Human Influenza Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness at the Workplace (01 February 2009 – 30 June 2010)
• Phase III – Business Continuity in Times of Pandemic – Protecting Workers and Businesses Through Preparedness Measures (03 May 2010 – 30 June 2011)

In the face of the growing risk of a human influenza epidemic, an effective, coordinated contribution by the UN system could help to reduce risk and increase the preparedness of all countries. The UN System Consolidated Action Plan for Avian and Human Influenza (UNCAPAHI) was developed by the UN system as a basis for resource mobilization and the strategic allocation of resources. It identifies seven strategic objectives that cover the entire scope of AHI action and provides a template for a coordinated UN system response to AHI.

Objectives

The project aims to:

1) reduce the risk of Avian Influenza infection amongst poultry workers and farmers, and

2) promote preparedness to protect workers and businesses in small enterprises in the event of future Human Influenza pandemic. The project promotes awareness on Avian and Human Influenza prevention among government officials, workers and employers and trains them by using ILO’s participatory training methodologies for improving safety and health at work. Best practices at the workplace are identified and disseminated to other workplaces as a practical means to prevent Avian and Human Influenza. The project also helps the government to establish and implement clear national policy to address Avian and Human Influenza issues at the workplace level.

Activities

• To conduct research for mapping poultry and related-industries and finding practical measures to reduce Avian Influenza infection;
• To develop and apply action-oriented training methodologies in cooperation with partner agencies;
• To organize and carry out national policy workshops with government agencies, workers’ and employers’ organizations in order to develop national action strategies;
• To publicize project activities and achievements;
• To develop worker/farmer and employer trainers to disseminate good practice information and maintain their training activities; and
• To monitor project progress periodically and accomplish planned project activities for impacts.