AIDS 2026: Protecting the gains in the HIV response, strengthening communities and accelerating access to innovation
At the AIDS 2026 International Conference, L’Initiative reaffirms its commitment to an HIV response grounded in scientific evidence, human rights and community leadership. Through two panel discussions at the France Pavilion, it will address two critical priorities: ensuring no one is left behind and securing equitable access to innovation, at a time of declining international funding and growing threats to the hard-won gains in the fight against HIV.
A Team France presence to reaffirm the importance of the HIV response
Through L’Initiative, Expertise France will participate in the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026), taking place from 26 to 31 July in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As the world’s leading conference on HIV, the International AIDS Conference brings together researchers, healthcare professionals, community organisations, international institutions and policymakers to address the major challenges shaping the global HIV response.
This year’s conference takes place in a particularly challenging context. While scientific progress has never been greater—with new prevention strategies, therapeutic innovations and advances in diagnostics—the global response is losing momentum. Declining international funding, the weakening of community organisations, and growing attacks on the rights of the populations most affected by HIV threaten more than two decades of progress.
“HIV: We must not choose between innovation and essential needs!“
Veronica Noseda, Head of Unit at L’Initiative – Expertise France, shares her perspective.
Against this backdrop, AIDS 2026 provides a vital platform to reaffirm the importance of an HIV response built on scientific evidence, human rights and stronger health systems.
For Expertise France, the conference also offers an opportunity to deepen dialogue with international partners and showcase its commitment to advancing more equitable global health.
For more than fifteen years, through L’Initiative, France has supported programmes that combine research, innovation, capacity building and support for public policy to respond to the concrete needs of countries most affected by HIV. This participation is part of the Team France Pavilion, alongside the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs(MEAE), the ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases (ANRS MIE), the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), and several scientific and community-based partners. Beyond a shared institutional presence, the Team France approach reflects a common ambition: promoting an HIV response based on science, human rights and international cooperation. In Rio, the French partners will jointly champion four complementary priorities: supporting communities and civil society; ensuring equitable access to innovation; strengthening scientific cooperation; and supporting the development of sustainable national responses capable of reinforcing health systems and safeguarding progress in the fight against HIV.
Two panel discussions addressing the future of the HIV response
On Wednesday, 29 July, L’Initiative will host two panel discussions at the France Pavilion, focusing on two major challenges facing the global HIV response :
1st panel discussions: Leaving no one behind: strengthening communities and key and vulnerable populations to end HIV
29 July 2026 | 10:00–11:00 (UTC-3) | France Pavilion
- Presentation:
Organised by L’Initiative – Expertise France, this first panel discussion will reaffirm France’s commitment to key and vulnerable populations, who remain disproportionately affected by HIV. At a time marked by declining international funding, shrinking civic space, and increasing threats to human rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), the discussion will highlight the essential role of communities, community-led research and civil society in improving access to prevention, testing and treatment services.
- Moderators:
Isabel Hottelart – Head of Strategy and Partnerships, Expertise France
José Boff – Head of the Gulf of Guinea and MENA Unit, Expertise France
- Speakers:
Philippe Walfard – Health and HIV/AIDS Project Manager, French Development Agency (AFD)
Nicolas Lorente – Head of Research, Coalition PLUS
Françoise Vanni – Director of External Relations and Communications, The Global Fund
Dr Joseph Larmarange – Public Health Demographer, IRD
2nd panel discussions: How Can We Ensure Equitable Access to Innovation?
29 July 2026 | 15:30–16:30 (UTC-3) | France Pavilion
- Presentation :
The afternoon session will focus on the conditions required to make innovation truly accessible to the countries that need it most. New prevention tools, diagnostics, treatments, technology transfer, pooled procurement mechanisms and scaling-up strategies will all be discussed during this panel, jointly organised by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and L’Initiative – Expertise France. The discussion will explore how scientific advances can be translated into tangible benefits for populations.
- Moderator:
Anne-Claire Amprou – French Ambassador for Global Health, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
- Participating organisations:
ALCS Morocco
Coalition PLUS
Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)
The Global Fund
Unitaid
Beyond these two events, L’Initiative – Expertise France’s participation in AIDS 2026 reflects a strong conviction: scientific innovation can only deliver impact if it is accessible to everyone, and the progress made in the fight against HIV can only be sustained through long-term support for the communities that are at the forefront of the response.
At a time of growing global uncertainty, the conference will provide an opportunity to reaffirm that investing in science, human rights and community actors remains one of the essential conditions for ending the HIV epidemic.
