Microfinance Horizon

3 December 2010 [PressRelease]

Standard Chartered announced today that it has exceeded its 2010 target to help educate one million people on HIV and AIDS. Working with governments, businesses, communities and health organisations globally, the Bank has educated 1.4 million people over the last three years through ‘Living with HIV’, its work education programme.

“HIV and AIDS continue to have a devastating impact on many communities where we do business. We believe that education plays an important role in reducing the rate of new HIV infections through helping people make safe lifestyle choices. This is something we continue to support through our Living with HIV programme.” said Peter Sands, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered.

Through the Living with HIV programme, the Bank and its partners provide employees with the information needed to make safe lifestyle choices and prevent HIV and AIDS. Living with HIV was launched by Standard Chartered in 1999, during a time when HIV and AIDS was having a detrimental impact on many of its employees in key African markets. As an international organisation with a mobile workforce, the awareness programme has become mandatory for all employees globally.

Today Standard Chartered works with 80 partners to replicate its programme and help educate their employees from cities to the most rural stretches of the world. In the last year alone, the Bank doubled its impact by partnering with government organisations in countries such as Brunei, Nigeria and Taiwan, reaching more than 1 million people since late 2009.

Lessons are conducted face-to-face and can be done anywhere. This cost effective, high impact approach has enabled the programme to reach a massive scale. The programme is based on the train the trainer approach. Standard Chartered provides all the guidance learning materials needed free of charge.

Standard Chartered was one of the first companies to take a proactive approach to fighting HIV and AIDS. The Bank’s policies include HIV and AIDS non-discriminatory and non-disclosure clauses to protect any employee who may be affected by the pandemic. The Bank also provides financial support to employees to help cover the cost of necessary anti-retroviral drugs when they are not freely available in their home country.

In 2006, Standard Chartered pledged to educate one million people on HIV and AIDS by sharing its Living with HIV workplace education programme without charge with partner organisations as part of the Clinton Global Initiative.

Standard Chartered – leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East

Standard Chartered PLC is a leading international bank, listed on the London, Hong Kong and Mumbai stock exchanges. It has operated for over 150 years in some of the world’s most dynamic markets and earns more than 90 per cent of its income and profits in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This geographic focus and commitment to developing deep relationships with clients and customers has driven the Bank’s growth in recent years.

With 1,700 offices in 70 markets, Standard Chartered offers exciting and challenging international career opportunities for more than 80,000 staff. It is committed to building a sustainable business over the long term and is trusted worldwide for upholding high standards of corporate governance, social responsibility, environmental protection and employee diversity. The Bank’s heritage and values are expressed in its brand promise, ‘Here for good’.

For more information, please visit: www.standardchartered.com