Advocacy News Update April 2024

Corinna Csaky on behalf of The Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS
With the IAS AIDS 2024 Conference fast-approaching, there is no better time to galvanise our collective efforts to end AIDS for children and adolescents. At the top of the Coalition’s agenda is financing where we continue our important discussions on what resources are needed to achieve our targets and those of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are delighted to share with you the latest news and information from our network. We hope this update is useful to you. Please do share it with your networks and encourage others to become an Advocate Member of the Coalition – by signing up here.

COALITION MEMBERS
  • PATA and UNICEF are part of the meeting of the Pediatric Adolescent HIV Learning Collaborative for Africa taking place in May in Benin. This meeting brings together government representatives for a south-south dialogue. This year it is looking at Pillar 4 of the Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children – addressing rights, gender inequality and social and structural barrriers.
  • The Coalition published a blog from Catherine Connor on testing and treatment.
  • PATA has published a report of its 2023 PATA SUMMIT. This includes an advocacy statement as well as many other useful resources summarizing the conclusions drawn by frontline service providers across Sub Saharan Africa.
  • PEPFAR Reauthorisation has been approved for one year only. See EGPAF’s response here.
  • The Coalition also published a Newsletter with advocacy opportunities across 2024.
  • The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and Firelight were part of the Eastern Africa Early Childhood Conference in Tanzania. Hosted by AfCEN 11-14 March.
  • GNP+ and ICW were amongst the co-authors of a new HIV Prevention Choice Manifesto launched African Women.
  • Coalition Member Lucie Cluver is amongst the co-authors of this new article in SAGE summarising the results of a systematic review of evidence on commercial sexual exploitation of children in Sub Saharan Africa.
  • Coalition Members Unicef, REPSSI, Lorraine Sherr and Lucie Cluver are all part of the Brighter Futures Conference on mental health 15 -16 May.
  • Unicef co-hosted with the Population Council an event on 12 March in New York on Social Protection and Adolescent Girls. See here for more information.
  • The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has extended its call for nominations for its $2.5 million Humanitarian Prize. Deadline 30 April 2024.
  • Unicef hosted a virtual event on 20 March psycho-social support and mental health of survivors of gender-based violence. Register here.
  • 26/29 May UNICEF are amongst the co-hosts of Lives in the Balance, a high level dialogue on investing in women, children and adolescents in the face of multiple crises. The 26 May focuses on MNCH and the 29 May on adolescent wellbeing. Register here.
HEALTH
  • A new article in DEVEX explores how Africa’s brain drain is impeding its clinical and medical research.
  • Prices for essential and life saving drugs in Nigeria soar by as much as 1000% leaving many without protection.
  • Devex has produced this analysis examining how much of USAID’s funding went to local grantees in 2023.
  • Global leaders condemn repeal of law banning FGM in Gambia.
  • International Association for Adolescent Health is accepting abstract applications for its European Regional Conference to be held later this year in October in Copenhagen. Deadline 30 April. See here for more information.
  • The MENA region Adolescent Health Conference will take place 30 September – 2 October in Egypt. See more information here.
  • The British Medical Journal has published a global evidence review on maternal newborn child and adolescent health in humanitarian settings.
  • The World Bank, USAID and the Global Financing Facility (GFF), hosted the 7th Annual Health Financing Forum April 15 to 17, 2024, on the sidelines of the 2024 World Bank/IMF spring meetings in Washington. See here.
  • The World Bank is holding a virtual event on 18 April on expanding health coverage for all. Register here.
  • The Sexual Violence Research Initiative has published its latest synthesis of academic research updates – see here.
  • The Sexual Violence Research Initiative global forum will take place in Cape Town 21-25 October 2024. See more information here.
  • JAMA published a new article on PrEP for cisgender women – see here.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
  • The 57th commission on Population and Development will take place in New York 29 April – 3 May. See here for more information.
  • Women Deliver have launched an Emerging Leaders Programme for young advocates in East Africa – apply here by 30 May.
  • The Sexual Violence Research Initiative is seeking input into its next five year strategic plan.
  • The Youth Civil Society Consultation will take place on 3 May. This international forum will facilitate discussions ahead of the Summit of the Future in September.
We welcome your views and updates, so please contact Ashton Josephs, Communications Adviser & Coordinator of Advocacy Tier of Membership & VYV Consortium Activities if you have something to share: ashton.josephs@childrenandhiv.org.