(introduction...)

The previous sections in this publication have highlighted the diverse range of business responses to HIV/AIDS. The Profiles in this section represent a small sample of the global response. Some of this information was provided through the Global Business Council on HIV&AIDS Awards for Business Excellence in response to HIV/AIDS. These Profiles serve as models of good practice that have the potential to be replicated by other businesses, the public sector and NGOs in response to HIV/AIDS.

Within the Profiles an attempt has been made to identify the origins and motivations for action, the details of actions, the results and the ingredients of success of each of the responses. This process has been undertaken with the cooperation of the profiled companies who have kindly provided the information to assist in identifying how effective responses can be created. Four interrelated areas have been identified from the Profiles:

1. A role for core business operations: highlighting ways in which a business can undertake initiatives that draw on their own resources and activities;

2. The importance of information and monitoring: addressing the significance of the need to gain full knowledge of how best to respond to HIV/AIDS, drawing on information from others and through continual reassessment of actions;

3. The involvement of small enterprises: identifying the effective and innovative role that small enterprises can play in the response to the disease;

4. The effectiveness of partnerships: clarifying the central position that partnerships have played in strengthening the effectiveness and sustainability of responses.

One should note that while this publication has associated individual companies and organisations as being illustrative of certain key lessons (see Figure 14), most of the examples do employ a much more holistic and integrated approach to tackling HIV/AIDS in the workplace and communities. For example, partnership of one kind or another has been key to the success of the project activities of each of the profiled companies.

FIGURE 14 Key lessons learned from the Profiles