FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2005

Contact: Mr. Victor Barnes

Telephone: (202) 835-1115

The Corporate Council on Africa awarded $100,000 grant to facilitate the private sector response to HIV/AIDS in four Francophone Africa countries

The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) recently signed a $100,000 contract to implement the World Bank’s AIDS Campaign Team for Africa (ACTafrica) Private Sector HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project in The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal.

The overall objective of the project is to strengthen private sector engagement in national HIV/AIDS efforts, including enhancing private sector access to available World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program (MAP) funding.

One of the key strategies for engaging the private sector is through the development of national business coalitions against HIV/AIDS and facilitation of public-private partnerships with other stakeholders such as international donor agencies, foundations, global NGOs and international corporations.

CCA’s primary role will be to provide country-level technical assistance to enhance coordination between key stakeholders including National AIDS Commission secretariats and their private sector focal points; private sector organizations such as labor unions, employer federations, business council representatives and individual companies; non-profit technical assistance partners; and donor agencies and other development partners. This type of multi-sector approach will enable the private sector to play a more effective and coordinated role in the national response to HIV/AIDS.

Stephen Hayes, CCA President, emphasized the importance of public-private health initiatives in Africa. “The work that CCA has and will continue to do to mobilize the private sector response to HIV/AIDS in Africa advocates for a strengthened commitment between the public and private sectors to use their respective strengths to develop an effective national response to the epidemic.”

Founded in 1993, the Corporate Council on Africa is the leading American nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to enhancing trade and investment ties between the United States and the 53 countries in Africa. The CCA HIV/AIDS Initiative is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and seeks to increase U.S. corporate involvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. The Initiative assists CCA members in the development and implementation of workplace HIV/AIDS policies and programs through partnerships, and strives to enhance private sector contributions to national agendas on HIV/AIDS.