May 20, 2026
An effective HIV prevention response requires real-time evidence and leadership rooted in the lived experiences of the communities that are most impacted. This edition of The Impact Report highlights AVAC’s role in both:
- African Leadership Drives HIV Prevention Access
- PrEPWatch: Transforming Data into Action for PrEP Access
African Leadership Drives HIV Prevention Access
An estimated 40.8 million people globally are living with HIV, 65% of whom live in Africa. The fight to end the epidemic depends on African leadership that shapes the HIV response, informs research priorities, influences policy and funding decisions, and advances advocacy agendas that respond to community needs. AVAC has been a leading voice advocating for African leadership through mentorship and partnerships, working with the next generation of decision-makers and advocates as they drive the global movement to advance equitable access to HIV prevention.
AVAC’s history of partnership, collaboration and support of partner networks is part of a long-term vision to transition from traditional power structures towards a model in which those with lived experience and field expertise have influence and equal voice in the design and delivery of HIV prevention planning, priority-setting, and decision-making. For three decades, AVAC has developed projects and partnerships that advance these goals, including the Fellows program and the COMPASS and CASPR coalitions.
Now, Access Bridge, a Kenya-based organization incubated over a decade at AVAC, is positioned to responsively and sustainably lead country-level and regional efforts to accelerate new product introduction and access. Wawira Nyagah, Access Bridge’s Executive Director, has over two decades of experience leading global and country-led initiatives to advance HIV prevention, and has built long-standing relationships with Ministries of Health, civil society advocates, and global decision-making bodies.
PrEPWatch: Transforming Data into Action for PrEP Access
AVAC’s PrEPWatch is the trusted global repository for comprehensive, user-friendly and up-to-the-minute information about HIV prevention methods. The platform provides data, analysis, tools, and comprehensive resources that are widely used by governments, donors, and partners to inform HIV prevention policy, financing, and programmatic decisions. AVAC ensures that data are available, accessible, and now in partnership with its sister organization, Access Bridge, used to strengthen the efforts of advocates, civil society, policy makers, and funders to translate evidence into action.
Transparent data enables accountability by making gaps visible and actionable, leading to informed global advocacy and decision making that improves equity in PrEP access worldwide. The evidence collected and housed on PrEPWatch, especially through the Global PrEP Tracker, is more critical than ever as the current US administration dismantles USAID and increasingly restricts access to data. In May 2026, AVAC documented the drastic declines in PrEP initiations following cuts to PEPFAR in 2025.