Eskom HIV and Aids supply chain programme
We are taking our comprehensive HIV and Aids strategy to the next level by reaching out to our suppliers. We have more than a thousand suppliers, some of whom have begun approaching us for support with HIV and Aids programmes.

In partnership with SABCOHA (South African Business Coalition on HIV and Aids), Eskom is implementing workplace programmes for all suppliers, using the SABCOHA HIV and Aids toolkit. The pilot project initially focuses on 40 Generation division suppliers.

We have committed to buying a thousand toolkits over three years. The first 400 were procured in 2005 at a cost of R1 300 per toolkit. The price includes the cost of coordination and service provision from SABCOHA.

The first phase was completed in May 2006. At that stage, most suppliers in the pilot project had the following in place:

Suppliers have thanked Eskom for providing support for implementation of the toolkit, rather than simply buying the toolkits. Eskom’s purchasing department – gatekeepers to the suppliers – was part of the process, ensuring future sustainability. Ongoing SABCOHA events provide a forum for suppliers to exchange experiences and follow new developments in the field of HIV and Aids.

Inclusion in the programme of the remaining suppliers will be based on learning from the pilot project. Eskom plans to include a thousand suppliers by the end of 2008.