At the annual African regional meeting of the Microbicide Trial Network (MTN) in Cape Town, South Africa this past October, AVAC and many of our coalition partners led and contributed to discussions about key emerging issues in microbicides research. 2011 AVAC Fellow Brian Kanyemba led a civil society consultation providing feedback for an upcoming rectal microbicide trial being planned for several countries, including South Africa. Several AVAC Fellows and partners also participated in a full-day joint civil society and MTN Community Working Group meeting, Next Steps for HIV Prevention in Women: Tenofovir Gel and Beyond. In addition AVAC Fellow Grace Kamau and partners Bright Phiri of SAT and Catherine Tomlinson of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) joined MTN Community Working Group members on a panel discussing community concerns and perceptions and how to continue to educate and involve communities and local media about the research process. MTN, AVAC Fellows and partners will continue to bring community voices to the table, both in understanding the implications of trial results and planning for new trials.