Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in practice

This toolkit from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is a collection of resources, checklists and examples to help in mainstreaming HIV/AIDS. The toolkit explains that mainstreaming should happen both in the internal sphere (related to the organisation or workplace) and in the external sphere (related to agency work). Three key questions are outlined that should guide mainstreaming activities in both spheres: how does HIV/AIDS affect your organisation and your work; how can you avoid doing harm; and how can you contribute to fighting HIV/AIDS by limiting the spread and mitigating the impact of the epidemic?

The tool kit offers a five step approach to mainstreaming HIV/AIDS. The first three steps are linked to preparatory analysis of the situation and include: context and organisational analysis, analysing the impact of HIV/AIDS on what you do, and analysing the potential negative implications of what you do on HIV/AIDS. Step four is to develop a comprehensive Workplace Policy and Programme and step five is to plan and implement this policy. The toolkit emphasises the importance of developing monitoring and evaluation instruments from the very beginning. Experience of mainstreaming HIV/AIDS also needs to be shared with others. [adapted from author]