Since companies are in many ways involved in their communities, it is a logical consequence to consider community involvement and partnerships with other stakeholders and institutions as an option within comprehensive HIV strategies. It is a contribution to equity in societies where being employed is a privilege and an advantage. The Global Business Coalition, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the International Labour Organization and GIZ (former GTZ) have developed a co-investment concept for private companies willing to extend their HIV/AIDS workplace interventions to the community.

A prerequisite for expanding HIV interventions to the community is that project components at the workplace are in place. The results of a knowledge, attitudes, practices and behaviours (KAPB) survey (if available) among employees can give a first idea about needs of each community, as the employees are themselves part of the community. Very often, peer educators and task force members represent an “entry point” into the communities and their knowledge can be a valuable source of information.

However, the target groups as well as the strategic goals of the project have to be clearly identified, keeping in mind that extending activities to communities might overload peer educators and/or a task force. To avoid duplicating activities, it is imperative to “screen” the communities in order to establish what activities are being undertaken by existing institutions (governmental or non-governmental), and to try to collaborate with these initiatives.

Activities at the community level can take various forms. Some examples include:

• Supporting training organisations in order to train additional peer educators within the communities;
• Providing training for general medical practitioners in order to upgrade their skills in the management and treatment of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases; 
• Supporting local theatre groups, artists and radio stations in collaboration with traditional or political leaders.

However, the motto of any successful community involvement should be: “Don’t run before you can walk”.

Making Co-Investment a Reality: Strategies and Experiences" (GIZ, GBC 2005)