Japanese Government Requests JOICFP to 'Bridge' International Projects

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is financing the construction of a new bridge across the Mekong River between Savannakhet province in Laos and Mukdahan province in Thailand. The project is expected to contribute to the smooth movement of people and goods on the east-west corridor connecting Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. While the social and economic benefits are many, there lies the possibility of an increase in the spread of HIV/AIDS as migrant workers and other people come and stay at the construction site.

Aware of this potential health threat, JBIC asked World Vision Japan to conduct an assessment of the HIV/AIDS situation in the site area and HIV/AIDS prevention and care activities being carried out by Lao and Thai public and non-governmental sectors. The assessment showed that Savannakhet has the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the country, and that the bridge site has the highest prevalence rates in the province.

To address the risk, JBIC approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Japan to inquire about the possibility of utilizing the Japan Trust Fund (JTF) under MOFA. MOFA recommended IPPF as an organization having expertise in implementing HIV/AIDS prevention activities in Laos and Thailand. JOICFP facilitated coordination between IPPF Central Office, IPPF ESEAOR, the Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand (PPAT), and MOFA.

In the field, PPAT and JBIC are in the process of organizing task groups, including those in the Lao and Thai governments, and gathering baseline information on mobile populations. This includes ethnicity, existing knowledge of HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention, condom usage prevalence and perception of risk. The implementing agencies will also provide technical assistance to STI clinics and prepare STI/HIV prevention programs that target construction workers and sex workers. Peer educators will be trained, and condoms promoted and distributed.

This is the first case of collaboration between Japan’s ODA loan project and IPPF’s JTF project. JOICFP welcomes this initiative and looks forward to being involved in similar collaborations in the area of HIV/AIDS in the near future. In addition, it is encouraging to see that NGOs such as JOICFP are being recognized for their expertise in HIV/AIDS and lead to the strengthening of the partnership between the Japanese government and NGOs being utilized in a major international project.