Workshop organized by UNDP-SEAHIV, ASEAN Secretariat and World Vision International

A joint publication of UNDP-SEAHIV, ASEAN Secretariat and World Vision International

Foreword

With the economic gains brought by infrastructural development along the ASEAN Highway Network come the inadvertent effects of increased vulnerability to HIV, both in the surrounding communities and to the employees of infrastructure construction projects. As medical responses alone are inadequate in building HIV resilience and countering increased HIV transmission, a multisectoral approach is needed.
The ASEAN Highway Network serves as a link between the countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion. It opens up opportunities for intercountry trade and communication, and facilitates population mobility throughout this region. It is thus vital to implement intercountry strategies in order to effectively build HIV resilience within and between the communities along the ASEAN Highway Network.
In order to foster intercountry collaboration on this issue, the Workshop on Building Regional HIV Resilience along the ASEAN Highway Network was organized by the UNDP South East Asia HIV and Development Programme (UNDP-SEAHIV) in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat and World Vision International. As well, 37 participants from the ministries of transport, construction and public works, the national AIDS authorities and NGOs of the six Greater Mekong Subregional countries were present. Mapping approaches as a tool to support an Early Warning Rapid Response System (EWRRS) were presented. This tool helps to identify and recognize stressors, which then allows for interventions to be designed and implemented so that adverse effects can be prevented.
The aim of this consultation was to devise collaborative actions and to build HIV resilience among the six countries along the ASEAN Highway Network to ensure that communities are proactive in dealing with the impacts brought by infrastructure construction projects. It is important to make information, resources and services available to the communities and employees of the infrastructure construction projects, as well as to reduce language barriers, so that all members may actively participate in building HIV resilience within their communities. By working together to build community HIV resilience, it is hoped that these countries can minimize the potential negative impacts of development along the ASEAN Highway Network, while realizing the benefits, such as increased employment, better transportation and intercountry economic collaborations.

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August 2004