The Role of Transport Corridors in the Fight Against HIV-AIDS

Media Contact:

In Washington, Mauricio Rios   Tel: (202) 458-2458

Email: mrios@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, December 1, 2005 -  Below are frequently asked questions regarding the role of transport corridors in the fight against HIV-AIDS:

How is the Transport sector at the Bank contributing to the fight against HIV-AIDS?

The Transport Sector is already part of the multi-sector AIDS team efforts in Africa and is responding in a similar manner to the recent commitments to combat AIDS in the South Asia Region.

The Transport sector is mainstreaming AIDS by including AIDS components in major transport projects, such as introducing workplace policies, HIV contract clauses for HIV/AIDS mitigation, and monitoring results (e.g., a decline in unprotected sex among truckers from 14% (1996) to 2% (2002) in Tamil Nadu India).   A self standing HIV-AIDs transport project is also being implemented in the Abidjan-Lagos West Africa transport corridor.

Why is it important to mainstream a response to HIV-AIDS in transport projects?

It is important because there is strong evidence that links transport routes to the spread of HIV, and transport workers are at high risk of infection because of high mobility and the lengthy stays away from home. The Africa Region Transport Group (AFTTR) was the first World Bank region to include HIV measures in its road operations to address the impact of increased mobility of passengers and operators across borders and also the first one to include HIV/AIDS mitigating provisions within standard clauses for works contracts.

What is the specific role of the Transport sector in the fight against HIV-AIDS?

We already know that HIV/AIDS is no longer simply a medical issue but one of the greatest development challenges. In that context, Transport has an important role to play, along with most economic sectors, in tackling the pandemic. Transport employees, and therefore the enterprises for which they work are at high risk from HIV/AIDS. In countering that risk the sector can also play a major role in mitigating the spread of the disease.

What is the Transport sector’s goal regarding HIV-AIDS?

The Bank’s Transport sector aims to ensure that while providing access to services and opportunities, it address effectively the associated HIV-AIDs risk factors.  The sector is participating in the Bank’s multi-sector approach and cooperating in particular with the Health sector, by looking at the   national as well as regional programs, and cooperating with the private sector, associations of transport enterprises and their employees, with specialist non-government organizations and with key agencies such as UNDP and ILO.

What are some examples of the Bank’s work in this area?

One example is the HIV/AIDS Abidjan-Lagos Transport Corridor project which is reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS among transport workers, migrants, commercial sex workers and local people living along the corridor. Further, by complementing national AIDS programs in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Togo and Nigeria, the project focuses on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care services in border towns and communities in this sub-region of western Africa.

Another example is the Ethiopian Road Sector Development Project, implemented by the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA). This was the first World Bank project to work closely with road contractors to include HIV/AIDS control and prevention clauses into road contracts. ERA also implemented workplace initiatives to carry out HIV/AIDS prevention in project implementation and at the workplace.

Should we be using more of the Bank’s comparative advantage to mobilize and mainstream HIV/AIDS in non-health sectors such as infrastructure/transport?

The brief answer is yes, we should.  From the infrastructure/transport perspective, we are already involved in mitigating risks through specific projects in several countries. Along with the South Asia region we are gearing up our response to AIDS. 

However, much more needs to be done in other regions and countries affected by the disease. 

Looking ahead, what are some of the challenges for the sector regarding HIV-AIDS?

The current issue for World Bank Transport staff in regions such as East Asia, for example, is to better understand the most effective way to operate where a strong multi-sectoral commitment has yet to emerge.

An important element of a Transport response is to gain a good understanding of partner organizations and how key stakeholders in the sector are already addressing the challenge. 

We also need to look more into what can be done to draw on the work of partner organizations and other transport stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  And what synergies across sectors and with external partners can be better exploited to address unmet needs and overcome implementation hurdles in the transport sector. 

For example, since the private sector is one of the major actors in the transport industry, it is necessary to engage them more and to build partnerships with them in order to better address issues of HIV-AIDS prevention and treatment.