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mapWorking with SMEs to combat HIV/AIDS
As HIV/AIDS often has a more significant impact on SMEs, we want to share what we have learnt with this important customer segment.
We are partners with the World Economic Forum’s Global Health Initiative on their ‘Beyond Big Business’ programme, which aims to help SMEs benefit from multinational HIV/AIDS workplace programmes. This year, we have piloted and refined our programme, working with SME clients. In June 2007, our workshop in Tanzania reached out to 20 SME banking clients on HIV/AIDS business risk awareness. A similar workshop was held in Singapore. A further 120 clients from across Africa attended our workshop during the World SME Expo in Hong Kong. 80 per cent of them requested the programme be implemented in their country. We aim to build on this model by rolling it out across our African SME business in 2008.
“SMEs face a number of barriers in implementing HIV workplace programmes. Standard Chartered is contributing to HIV/AIDS education resources to help SME clients be more sustainable.”
Richard Samans, Managing Director, World Economic Forum.