Economic Support and Income-Generating Programming for HIV and AIDS-Impacted Communities

This progress note synthesizes an on-line discussion that the SEEP Network's Market Development Working Group hosted in April 2006.The on-line discussion focused on economic support and income-generating programming for HIV/AIDS impacted communities. It aimed to gain insights into economic programming for HIV/AIDS, and encourage participants to share their experiences in offering economic support to HIV/AIDS-impacted communities. Program experiences could be categorized into grassroots initiatives that delivered integrated support and donor-funded initiatives that offered economic programming plus other benefits.The discussion examined significant challenges such as addressing skills loss and getting community-based organizations and self-help groups to link with broader economic development initiatives. Threat of violence against HIV/AIDS support programs and difficulty in obtaining funding for economic support programs in HIV/AIDS affected communities also present additional challenges. The note presents findings shared by participants about economic development initiatives for HIV/AIDS impacted communities. They include:

• Most initiatives operate at the community level;
• Larger-scale initiatives have upgraded productivity of households, and improved market access;
• Initiatives face a funding deficit;
• Initiatives need action research and capacity building beyond professional boundaries.