MERL Handbook for Advocacy Champions

Everything you need to know about MERL for effective advocacy

This handbook has been put together from various training materials that have been utilized to build the MERL capacity of partners in the Coalition to build Momentum, Power, Activism, Strategy and Solidarity in Africa (COMPASS); between 2018 and 2021.

The overarching aim of this handbook is to enhance theimpact of campaigns; by empowering you with tools to monitor, evaluate and learn from your advocacy. This is a simple guide to understand advocacy MERL!

Translating Scientific Advance into Public Health Impact

A Plan for Accelerating Access and Introduction of Injectable CAB for PrEP

AVAC’s Plan for Accelerating Access and Introduction of Injectable CAB for PrEP provides a comprehensive view of all the moving parts involved in delivering this new PrEP option and identifies priorities for ensuring time is not wasted and opportunity is not squandered. The plan focuses on learning the lessons from the first ten years of delivering oral PrEP and how to move faster, more strategically, and with greater coordination to maximize the impact of injectable CAB for PrEP.

Statement on the Dapivirine Ring for Women: Call for Accelerated Global Access

This statement, from a coalition of advocates, applauds the WHO for its ongoing support and its 2021 recommendation of the dapivirine vaginal ring as an additional prevention option for women. The advocates call on funders, country governments and community leaders to sustain their support for the ring’s introduction and rollout in African countries where it is needed and for prompt regulatory reviews. And they call on HIV programs to integrate the ring, and collaborate with communities on the design of those programs.

Consultation avec les parties prenantes de la PF/SSR sur la pilule de double protection

Ce rapport résume et rapporte les prochaines étapes d’une consultation organisée par AVAC et FP2030 avec les parties prenantes de la planification familiale (PF) et de la santé sexuelle et reproductive (SSR). L’objectif de la consultation était de comprendre les points de vue uniques des parties prenantes sur la pilule de double prévention (DPP), une pilule orale quotidienne qui prévient le VIH et la grossesse.

Click here for the English version.

Consultation with FP/SRH Stakeholders on the Dual Prevention Pill

This report summarizes and reports next steps from an AVAC and FP2030 convened consultation with family planning (FP) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) stakeholders. The aim of the consultation was to understand stakeholders’ unique perspectives on the Dual Prevention Pill (DPP), a daily oral pill that prevents HIV and pregnancy. The consultation helped to elevate questions and issues to consider as DPP introduction plans are refined and that can also inform the development and delivery of future multi-purpose prevention technologies (MPTs).

Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPTs): Technology Landscape and Potential for Low- and Middle-Income Countries

This landscape report provides an overview of the current novel technologies in development and assesses their relevance and potential in low- and middle-income countries. While the pipeline is rich, the report calls out the need to involve key populations early in the design, introduction and scale-up of new products and proactively address potential market barriers. These considerations, as well as plans for adoption, manufacturing capacity, a broad supply base and an effective introduction strategy are crucial to developing solutions that are accessible, affordable, and acceptable and truly respond to people’s needs.

HIV Prevention Research & Development Investments Report

The annual HIV Prevention Research and Development Investments Report reveals a growing mismatch between the current promise of HIV prevention R&D, and consistent declines in the funding available to both research new HIV prevention approaches and expand access to the prevention tools available today. The 2020 report, based on outreach to 215 funders of HIV prevention R&D in the public, philanthropic and commercial sectors, is the 16th annual report from the Resource Tracking for HIV Prevention Research & Development Working Group.

Read the report at hivresourcetracking.org.

AVAC’s Strategic Plan 2022-2026

AVAC’s strategic framework is grounded in a multi-layered approach that carefully considers all of the components needed to achieve the organization’s vision, capitalize on its key strengths, and ensure that AVAC is poised to make an impact on the issues it cares most about over the next five years, and beyond.

The vision describes the world we are striving for. The mission describes what AVAC does in service to achieving this vision. The strategic pillars outline the objectives and approaches that AVAC will take over the next five years to achieve its mission and vision. The strategic pillars are supported by AVAC’s core values—the principles by which we work—as well as a set of key enablers.

Advocate, Translate, Catalyze: For HIV prevention and health equity

In this document, we look at the actions we are taking and those that as a field we all need to take to transform prevention “options” developed through research into prevention “choices” for people that can save lives and help end epidemics. This work is critical, and it is shared – just as we developed our strategic plan and EDI statement in partnership with so many, so too will we move this work forward, together.

20 Essential Resources – Condoms & Family Planning

As recent-day family planning and reproductive health efforts place greater emphasis on innovation, it is important to remember the value of evidence-based family planning tools that have been effective for decades. Since the physical properties of condoms have not undergone substantial change, many people may forget the power of condoms as a family planning tool. This collection was created as a reminder to all of us that some methods continue to work even as innovations arise.