Empowering Women with HIV in Entrepreneurship Activities with ILO
Description
This a program funded by the International Labor Organization (ILO) that aims at promoting entrepreneurship and mitigates poverty amongst women living with HIV/AIDS in Bamenda, Kumbo, Wum and Bali of the North West Region. Services coordinated by IDF for the program include technical, management and financial support and training. The women participating in the program are called promoters.
Project Context
To uphold the fight against HIV/AIDS pandemic in the world of work, ILO identified the potential of working with cooperatives. Cooperative institutions can reach workers in informal sectors who are mostly left out by many HIV/AIDS interventions which are targeting workers in the formal settings. Since 2008, cooperatives in Cameroon have been part of the fight against HIV and AIDS. 22 cooperative and social economy organizations have developed policies regarding HIV and AIDS based on the ILO directive. The results to date indicate that cooperatives can be important actors in the fight against HIV and AIDS even though to date they have not yet been fully involved in the national approach.
A promoter with her pig farm
Activities and Methodology
- Identification and training of two psychosocial and economic counselors per cooperative. These counselors are in charge of the monitoring and evaluation of the activities of promoters.
- Registration for information sessions which are carried out at identified financial institutions with the support of the counselors. Information sessions are held to enlighten the participants on the philosophy and methodology of the program.
- Initial diagnosis of interested promoters are carried out to gather baseline data and to determine the nature of assistance that the promoter needs.
- In order to qualify as a member of the program, the promoters must: be a woman; be infected with HIV/AIDS; own a business activity; be a member or be ready to join a Cooperative; be prepared to share herCD4 count result; and accept to respect procedures.
- Within the program, activities include disbursement of loans for business activities, follow up with the promoters who receive loans (repayment rate, business success, health), registration for Mutual Health, and training of promoters on how to keep financial records.
Results and Impact
As of October 2010, the project had providing financial support in the forms of loans to 128 promoters, of which 50% has been repaid to date. The promoters have reported positive impacts from the project including: being able to pay for their children’s schooling, having the confidence to give public testimonies, less stigma in their communities and increase economic independence.
IDF Staff meeting with counselor and promoter
Difficulties Faced
- Insufficient funds to meet the high demand for loans
- Insufficient means to support allowance of counsellors
Lessons Learned
- Program has had a positive impact on the lives of the promoters
- There will be an increased level of literacy in the promoters’ families because children are going to school
- More women with HIV are feeling confident and less stigmatized
- Men are also interested in the program
Way Forward/Recommendations
- More counsellors are required to provide more substantial support to promoters
- More stringent action is required to deal with delinquent promoters
Labor Organization (ILO) that aims at promoting entrepreneurship and mitigates poverty amongst women living with HIV/AIDS in Bamenda, Kumbo, Wum and Bali of the North West Region. Services coordinated by IDF for the program include technical, management and financial support and training. The women participating in the program are called promoters.
Feedback from the promoters has been positive:
“Before the coming of the program, none of my children was going to school. Thanks to the program, I am able to conveniently support 3 of my children in school.”
“I am proud to stand here and say I now have a business capital of my own, because I was formerly living on borrowed capital”
“I have been living a healthy life since I joined the program because the stress I used to have is no more”