As seismic shifts in global health funding and strategy unfold, the 2025 International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), happening December 3–8 in Accra, Ghana, comes at a pivotal time. For more than three decades, ICASA has served as a critical platform founded by African scientists, activists, and advocates to fight stigma, drive research, and elevate African leadership in the HIV response. This year, this mission is more urgent than ever. 

AVAC and partners will be in Accra to meet this moment. On December 2, we are joining partners to co-host the 8th Biomedical HIV Prevention Forum (BHPF), an official ICASA pre-conference with the theme Advancing Biomedical HIV Prevention as a National Priority Through Choice.

This forum will bring together prevention champions; advocates, civil society representatives, researchers, youth leaders, development partners, and government officials from the Ministries of Health and Finance and ensure that the promise of biomedical prevention is fully realized.

Other Sessions on Our Radar at ICASA

If you are in Accra, be sure to join the many satellite sessions in which AVAC and partners are involved.

Wednesday, December 3

• Future Proofing Person Centered HIV Care: Ensuring Appropriate Integration for and with Key Populations, hosted by the International AIDS Society, 17:45-18:30

Thursday, December 4

• Launch of The Lancet HIV & The Lancet Global Health Joint Series on Sustainable HIV Prevention in Africa, hosted by the Government of Malawi, Malawi’s National AIDS Commission, the African-led HIV Control Working Group (HCWG), and Georgetown University’s Center for Innovation in Global Health; learn more,10:50-11:35

Saturday, December 6

• Why CHOICE Matters in Ensuring an Integrated, Sustainable Response to HIV, hosted by the African Women Prevention Community Accountability Board (AWPCAB) and African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) in partnership with ViiV Healthcare, 13:10-13:55
• Innovating to Scale PrEP in a New Reality: Country-Led Strategies for Sustainability, Local Ownership, and Impact, hosted by AVAC and the Coalition to Accelerate Access to Long-Acting PrEP; download flyer, 14:05-14:50

Sunday, December 7

• Introduction of Lenacapavir, Lessons Learned from Early Implementation in Africa, 8:45-9:30
• Voices and Partnerships to Advance Health Innovation and Equity, hosted by Unitaid, 13:10-13:55

Community Booth

AVAC and partners will “takeover” the Unitaid Community Booth on Friday, 5 December between 9:30 and 13:30, and on Sunday, 7 December between 12:00 to 16:00 to feature programming that brings together advocates and community members with other key stakeholders to discuss LEN for PrEP rollout, emphasize prevention as sustainability, and advance youth leadership. Be sure to visit the UNITAID booth on Friday, 5 December between 9:30 and 13:30 to secure a schedule of the program and join the conversations.

As conversations unfold at ICASA, two urgent imperatives must anchor our collective advocacy: accelerating equitable access to approved HIV prevention options and sustaining a forward-looking research agenda that responds to community priorities and drives long-term impact. In the face of historic US funding cuts and a shifting global health architecture, these goals are more essential than ever. 

The People’s Research Agenda (PRA), which is being updated for ICASA, is a vital tool for shaping and demanding the HIV prevention research the world needs. Whether you’re participating in the Biomedical HIV Prevention Forum or broader ICASA conversations, we encourage you to look out for the updated PRA and use it to frame your priorities, raise your voice, and influence what comes next. 

The Global Fund is working with Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs) and Principal Recipients (PRs) to reprioritize activities under Grant Cycle 7 (GC7) due to reduced funding allocations. This process aims to safeguard essential HIV, TB, and malaria interventions while promoting integration, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability within broader health programs. Countries are encouraged to consider all available resources, both domestic and external, when making decisions, with GC7 reprioritization laying the groundwork for Grant Cycle 8. The Global Fund urges inclusive stakeholder engagement throughout this process.

As part of this process, the Global Fund encourages inclusive stakeholder engagement. Since the release of the programmatic reprioritization guidance, the Learning Hubs have held joint and regional-level webinars. However, we are now at a critical point where PRs and Country Teams are deep into the reprioritization revisions.

To add value beyond introductory explanations, this webinar will pivot to focus on community-level experiences, with a spotlight on emerging best practices, challenges, and engagement opportunities. This space will enable mutual learning and forward-looking strategising among civil society and community actors.

Objectives

1. Share community experiences and lessons learned from engaging in the GC7 reprioritization process.
2. Highlight country-level challenges and best practices around community involvement.
3. Explore opportunities for communities to strengthen their positioning and influence in the current and future grant cycles.
4. Provide practical recommendations for better community engagement in grant revision processes.
5. Inform Global Fund teams on ground-level realities to support more inclusive implementation.

For more information, contact 

1. Lizzie Otaye(EANNASO) [email protected] 
2. Dr. Munaymu Ismail (MYCU) [email protected]
3. Fidele Bemadoum (CS4ME) [email protected] 
4. Richard Muko (AVAC/COMPASS) [email protected]