USAID Fund Encourages Business Engagement in HIV Avoidance in Vietnam

The U.S.’s Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking to support candidates who are able to compile innovation ideas for HIV prevention in Vietnam. The support package, which goes up to 80,000 each candidate/business, will be funded through Healthy Markets Innovation Fund, an initiative to identify and invest in innovative social enterprise ideas for HIV-related commodities and services in the country. The competition is open to social enterprises, nonprofit organizations and private businesses. “In the coming years, as Vietnam looks for novel ways of sustaining the HIV response, it will need to reach out to new partners and find new methods of providing goods and services,” said U.S. Consul General Rena Bitter. She noted that “the Healthy Markets Innovation Fund is a new exciting opportunity to engage and support private sector and community entrepreneurs with enterprising ideas that can contribute to the HIV response.” Healthy Markets is a five-year program meant to leverage private sector and social enterprise skills, resources and innovation to contribute to a sustained HIV response for populations facing the greatest risks in Vietnam. The program is funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through USAID, the agency has funded HIV prevention projects in Vietnam since 1990s. In the country where 254,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, 80% of Vietnam’s total investment in HIV prevention is sourced overseas. (Dau Tu – Investment Sept 7 p2, www.usaid.gov Aug 21)