People infected or affected by HIV and AIDS face social, health-related, and economic challenges. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can help address these needs, often in partnership with other entities. This technical note explores the range of services required by HIV and AIDS-affected communities for effective economic strengthening by microfinance and enterprise development (MED) programs. It analyzes the issues that confront clients affected by HIV and that affect their economic livelihoods and then explores the available services that affected clients can enlist to overcome these challenges. It concludes with a list of decision questions to help microfinance and enterprise development programs determine which services are most needed for their own clients and whether partnerships can help deliver these services.

This document is also published as an addendum to The SEEP Network Guidelines for Microenterprise Development in HIV and AIDS-Impacted Communities.