GPP Body of Evidence Webinar Series

Good Participatory Practice Guidelines have been shaping and improving clinical research since 2007. They provide a global reference guide for ethical and effective stakeholder engagement, helping ensure the priorities of trial participants and their communities are centered in clinical trials and broader research agendas.  

However, GPP implementation is far from easy—it looks different in every context, outcomes can be difficult to quantify, engagement work is often seen as secondary to clinical processes, and therefore, undervalued and under-resourced. 

To help solve for this, last year AVAC introduced the GPP Body of Evidence, a new resource that brings together a set of tools highlighting the value of GPP, as well as the nuts and bolts of how to get it done.  

Now join us for a series of webinars in collaboration with The Global Health Network, Wellcome Trust, and WHO, to analyze the current state of GPP and discuss areas of growth and further development as we chart the way forward.

It’s Not Just about the Trial: GPP from discovery to delivery in TB research

GPP enhances every stage of the research lifecycle. In this webinar, our partners at TB Alliance, SMART4TB, and THINK will shared experiences, lessons learned, and innovative approaches in integrating GPP at the organizational, network and situational level, from drug development through delivery.

Moderators:

  • Stacey Hannah, AVAC
  • Dr. Michele Tameris, University of Cape Town

Panelists:

  • Stephanie Seidel, TB Alliance
  • Erica Lessem, SMART4TB
  • Masingita Lambane, THINK

Recording / Stephanie Seidel Slides / Erica Lessem Slides / Masingita Lambane Slides

The GPP Body of Evidence: GPP Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks, REAL and REAL2

GPP is an essential part of clinical trials research, and an ethical imperative to creating equitable and effective clinical trials. GPP is created by and for communities, so it necessarily looks different and takes multiple forms in different cultural contexts. This kind of responsiveness is inherent to GPP, but it also makes it difficult to measure and evaluate.

In this webinar, we learned from the Realist Review of Community Engagement and the REAL2 review of participatory research that both examined frameworks for evaluating community engagement efforts, as well as the Global Health Network’s new course on evaluation, and other evaluation efforts in the field of GPP.

Moderator:

  • Jessica Salzwedel, AVAC

Panelists:

  • Alun Davies, The Global Health Network
  • Sassy Molyneux, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust
  • Dr. Robin Vincent, Oxford University

Recording / Alun Davies Slides / Sassy Molyneux Slides / Dr. Robin Vincent Slides

Innovations in GPP

This webinar on September 11 featured speakers from around the world with experience implementing GPP at research sites, within networks, and at the sponsorship level.

They illustrated how GPP can expand beyond the more familiar (but always reliable) CABs and town hall meetings to newer ideas like partnership-based approaches, the creation of a community scorecard, and more.

Moderator and Presenter:

  • Ntando Yola, Desmond Tutu Health Foundation

Presenters:

  • Sarah Read, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  • Clever Chilende, Treatment Advocacy & Literacy Campaign (TALC)

Recording / Clever Chilende Slides / Sarah Read Slides / Ntando Yola Slides

Advocates’ Guide for PPPR

Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in 2024

If you’re having trouble making sense of all of the initiatives around pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPPR) this year, don’t worry—you’re not alone! This Advocates Guide provides a reference for the relevant information all in one place. The contents explain the major initiatives, key dates for involvement, how to get involved and make sure your priorities are heard by decision makers.

Avac Event

Responding to Project 2025’s Threats to Science, Rights and Resources

Project 2025 is part of an ongoing multi-pronged backlash to the sexual and reproductive health, gender and LGBTQ+ movements. This has serious implications for both domestic and foreign policies and programs for our communities and beyond. Building on the experience of the HIV movement in fighting these same far-right forces, this webinar discussed potential responses through the lens of HIV affected communities and programs.

Speakers:

  • Sean Cahill, The Fenway Institute
  • Aleksei Lakhov, EuroNPUD
  • Will Ramirez, Southern AIDS Coalition
  • Beirne Roose-Snyder, Council for Global Equality
  • Olabukunola (Buky) Williams, AKINA MAMA WA AFRIKA

Moderators:

  • Anne-christine d’Adesky, Stop the Coup 2025
  • Allan Maleche, KELIN

Co-sponsors:

  • AVAC
  • European AIDS Treatment Group
  • EuroNPUD
  • The Fenway Institute
  • Funders Concerned About AIDS
  • GSSG Foundation
  • KELIN
  • Southern AIDS Coalition
  • Stop the Coup 2025

Recording / Slides / Resources / Chat

Pride and a Transnational Anti-LGBTQ+ Reaction

For five decades LGBTQ+ communities and their allies have come together in June to celebrate Pride, to demand recognition of our human rights, and to honor Queer lives. It was movement that ignited out of a climate of fear and ignorance, one that de-humanized trans people and same-gender loving people and made possible their continual persecution.   

As we mark the 54th anniversary of the New York City Stonewall Uprising of 1969, we celebrate the diversity and resilience of LGBTQ+ communities around the world and we must call out the transnational anti-LGBTQ+ reaction that is propelling gay-hate legislation, systemic violations of human rights, and violence against Queer people in countries across Africa, Asia and the US.  

Read on for details on an important advocacy movement against the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Uganda, a new podcast capturing the highlights and personal story of one advocate’s work, and the work of a cross-country collaboration strengthening advocacy for key populations.  

New Report

UNWANTED, OUTLAWED AND ILLEGAL: THE CRY OF LGBTIQ+ UGANDANS

It’s been one year since the Ugandan legislature passed one of the most draconian gay-hate laws in the world, the Anti Homosexuality ACT (AHA), which has since been approved by a Ugandan court ruling, now on appeal. The AHA intensifies the criminalization of LGBTQ+ people, including up to life imprisonment for consensual same-sex conduct, and even the death penalty in certain circumstances. A new report by the Strategic Response Team (SRT), UNWANTED, OUTLAWED AND ILLEGAL: THE CRY OF LGBTIQ+ UGANDANS, documents evictions, arrests, imprisonment, forced anal exams, and community violence against LGBTQ+ people since the passage of AHA. 

New Podcast

PxPulse: The Advocacy Chronicles

In a new edition of PxPulse: The Advocacy Chronicles, Allan Mwasa of SMUG International in Uganda discusses the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), rising violence against LGBTQ+ communities in Uganda, how advocates are organizing, and what allies can do now. A donation to SMUG supports the work of the Strategic Response Team documenting civil rights violations and intensifying persecution of LGBTQI+ Ugandans. Click here to donate to SMUG. 

On the Radar

The Key Population Trans National Collaboration (KP-TNC)

And follow the work of the Key Population Trans National Collaboration (KP-TNC), a cross country collaboration strengthening advocacy for key populations. Working in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zanzibar, the KP-TNC strengthens relationships between KP-led organizations and development partners, regional organizations, the African Union, PEPFAR, The Global Fund and country governments, and develops strategies to advance advocacy for global health equity at large, and for HIV prevention and treatment among key populations. 

This moment requires global solidarity to push back against the lies, prejudice and discrimination that imperil LGBTQ+ people everywhere. Here’s to a powerful Pride! 

PxPulse: The Advocacy Chronicles with SMUG’s Allan Mwasa

On this episode of The Advocacy Chronicles, we’re speaking with Nsubuga Allan Mwasa, a Ugandan activist, clinical psychologist and an advocate for mental health and LGBTQ+ rights. Allan serves as Strategic Initiatives Manager at Sexual Minorities Uganda, or SMUG, which has been at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ rights, often facing severe challenges including legal battles and violent opposition.

Despite these challenges, SMUG continues to advocate for the fundamental human rights of the LGBTQ community. It does this through legal action, public awareness campaigns, and international advocacy. SMUG is also part of Convening For Equality Uganda, or CFE, a coalition of civil society groups dedicated to challenging Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act. The Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), signed into law in May 2023, significantly increased discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ community. Despite widespread international condemnation and ongoing legal challenges, the law was upheld by the Constitutional Court in April 2024. Petitioners have since filed an appeal to the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the law, which remains one of the strictest in the world, including life imprisonment and death penalty for certain offenses.  

Listen

Resources

Follow the Conversation at Convening For Equality Uganda’s Social Media Accounts

Avac Event

The GPP Body of Evidence: GPP Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks, REAL and REAL2

GPP is an essential part of clinical trials research, and an ethical imperative to creating equitable and effective clinical trials. GPP is created by and for communities, so it necessarily looks different and takes multiple forms in different cultural contexts. This kind of responsiveness is inherent to GPP, but it also makes it difficult to measure and evaluate.

In this webinar, we learned from the Realist Review of Community Engagement and the REAL2 review of participatory research that both examined frameworks for evaluating community engagement efforts, as well as the Global Health Network’s new course on evaluation, and other evaluation efforts in the field of GPP.

Moderator:

  • Jessica Salzwedel, AVAC

Panelists:

  • Alun Davies, The Global Health Network
  • Sassy Molyneux, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust
  • Dr. Robin Vincent, Oxford University

Recording / Alun Davies Slides / Sassy Molyneux Slides / Dr. Robin Vincent Slides

Fighting the Same Fight Again

Civil Society and Community Engagement in Global Health Initiatives
Authors: Samantha Rick (AVAC), Quentin Batreau (GFAN), Eolann MacFadden (Frontline AIDS)

Pandemic Accord negotiations have so far failed to effectively engage advocate and civil society voices. With key parts of the Pandemic Accord moving toward further negotiation over the next few years, the Coalition of Advocates for Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness calls on advocates in and around the World Health Assembly to continue to rally for meaningful engagement with civil society and community and leadership roles for both in the ongoing multilateral process for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPPR).

For decades civil society and community organizations have been recognised and legitimately engaged as vital stakeholders and leaders in the HIV response. But this principle of inclusion has been inadequately upheld in other health areas, and vitally important initiatives, including the negotiations of the Pandemic Accord, have failed to build on the success of the HIV response and fully utilize existing models and mechanisms for engagement. Without them, these efforts exclude critical stakeholders when they should integrate civil society organizations (CSOs) as a crucial driver of policy and programming. Although certain initiatives have created some opportunities for CSO involvement, organized campaigns and public outcry have been necessary to garner a seat at the table. With every new program, fund, or secretariat, advocates are compelled to engage in the same repetitive battle to obtain a minimum of two voting seats and consultation prior to decision-making.

Civil society representation at the World Health Assembly has been reduced, a formal mechanism for engagement at UN High Level Meetings has been rejected, requests for even observer status during Pandemic Accord negotiations have also been rejected, and civil society and community advocates have experienced hostility at international convenings such as International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA). Preventing, preparing, and responding to disease outbreaks requires public trust, understanding of regional or cultural ways of working, geographical limitations, and the true needs of communities. We cannot build effective health infrastructure by erecting barriers to civil society and community leadership. 

It is absolutely crucial that civil society and communities band together to demand meaningful engagement in the processes that follow and refuse to permit governments and institutions from rolling back CSO access and decision-making power even further. 

We have seen throughout the 40 years of the HIV/AIDS response that meaningful engagement  turns the tide when biomedical innovations fall short of their potential because of real-world challenges. Decision makers, government representatives, and multilateral institutional leaders must enshrine a baseline level of meaningful civil society engagement practices where and when international decisions are made. As lessons from the global HIV response show us, it is possible, if not probable, that many of the outstanding issues in the Pandemic Accord could have been solved with civil society input and influence, as knowledge-brokers who bring unique insights, find solution, and foster trust where it’s needed most.

The Coalition of Advocates for Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness is a group of organizations advocating for an integrated and holistic approach to preparedness that emphasizes equity, inclusion, and synergies of multiple global health programs in advancing preparedness. We believe that all global health initiatives should be centered on the key principles of community leadership, equity, access, and human rights and that efforts to fight current epidemics and strengthen health systems are central to equitable pandemic preparedness.

The biggest lesson from the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria is that if space is not reserved for civil society, we must take it – “Nothing For Us Without Us”. Join us at the World Health Assembly or watch the recording of our side event focused on civil society engagement if you can’t make it to Geneva, and keep demanding meaningful engagement in every global health initiative.

Avac Event

Using the COMPASS Campaign Advocacy Assessment Tool (C-CAAT) to assess the effectiveness of advocacy campaigns

This webinar is for all COMPASS coalition members, partners, stakeholders and individuals taking on advocacy in various fields.

By the end of the webinar participants are expected to have an improved capacity on how to reflect on advocacy outcomes (positive and negative) individually and collectively with relevant stakeholders and partners; enhanced ability to identify, describe and document advocacy outcomes in a clear and structured manner; and an improved capacity to identify follow up actions/tactics needed to achieve the advocacy goal or respond in the event of a setback.

Avac Event

HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections: Progress and gaps

13:00 – 14:30 CEST PM

Please join this webinar being held in the run up to the 77th World Health Assembly.

The World Health Organization (WHO) will launch a publication, which describes progress and gaps identified during the first two years of implementing the global health sector strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for 2022-2030.

Moderators will ask key leaders in the responses to HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs how we can increase visibility, political will and community activism to accelerate action.

Panelists include:

  • Jérôme Salomon, WHO, Switzerland
  • Jessica Hicks, World Hepatitis Alliance, United Kingdom
  • Maureen Luba, AVAC, Malawi
  • Meg Doherty, WHO, Switzerland
  • Patty Garcia, Cayetano Heredia University, Peru
  • Philippe Duneton, Unitaid, Switzerland
  • Sabin Nsanzimana, Ministry of Health, Rwanda (TBC)

The conversation will be moderated by Charles Gore from the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and Birgit Poniatowski from IAS – the International AIDS Society.

The webinar is organized by IAS – the International AIDS Society – and its partners, WHO, Medicines Patent Pool and Unitaid.

Media Science Cafes

AVAC Capability Statement

Since 2012, AVAC has worked to strengthen the capacity of journalists to report on HIV prevention research and global health and science topics. Through its flagship Media Science Café Program, AVAC partners with health media associations in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe to connect journalists with subject matter experts—researchers, policymakers and advocates—and help build the relationships needed to foster accurate and informed reporting of HIV, COVID and emerging health and science issues.