Looking back on our participation in the 22nd ICASA Conference 2023

From December 4 to 9, 2023, Harare, Zimbabwe, hosted the 22nd International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (
ICASA ). In this context, we actively participated by organizing three round tables on our stand with the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the French Development Agency and Expertise France. These moments of exchange brought together experts, members of civil society and institutional representatives around crucial themes for the fight against HIV. A look back at these enriching meetings that marked our commitment to responding to global health issues.

Round Table 1: Sharing experiences and challenges of reducing the risks of people who use drugs

“Reduce Risks, Expand Horizons”

The first round table brought together more than 70 participants, demonstrating a keen interest in the challenges related to harm reduction among drug users. Representatives of the various organizations present (ANCS (Senegal), Espace confiance and PNLS (Côte d’Ivoire), SEP CNLS & Médecins du Monde (Burundi), RNGOF (Rwanda), PILS (Mauritius)) shared their experiences in setting up harm reduction-based care. Highlighting the advocacy issues to be carried out to change the legal framework of countries, they discussed the challenges encountered in better reaching and serving drug users, in particular the challenges they face in scaling up opiate substitution treatment.

This led to discussions between participants and panellists and contributed to contacts and plans for visits to learn from the experience of Côte d’Ivoire in particular.

Round Table 2: GC7: All Aboard! For Meaningful Community Engagement

“Strengthening Connections, Increasing Impact”

The second session, themed “GC7: All Aboard!”, brought together a diverse panel, with representatives from the Global Fund, Coalition Plus, and key populations with ANSS (Burundi). Efforts to strengthen community engagement in the Global Fund grant process were commended.

Concretely, the Global Fund, through its strategic initiative “community engagement” has set up a support and capacity building mechanism, and the Initiative has worked, among other things, to raise awareness among its consultants and to increasingly provide technical support dedicated to the priorities of civil society organizations and communities. However, it is clear that very few of the priorities of civil society organizations and communities have been integrated into the grant making phases and therefore into the grants that will be implemented from January 2024.

It is therefore essential to continue efforts to facilitate community engagement in the implementation of grants. To this end, the RISE survey on community engagement within national coordinating bodies, conducted by Coalition Plus (and which benefited from support from L’Initiative, offers a variety of recommendations and suggestions for improvement for the Global Fund as well as for the various technical and financial partners). The exchange demonstrated the importance of continuing efforts for closer collaboration.

Round Table 3: Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV & Rights: When Making the Connection Becomes Crucial

“A broader vision, related issues”

This last round table, co-hosted with the French Development Agency, highlighted the importance of integrating sexual and reproductive health care and services and the fight against HIV. This exchange was informed by feedback from three countries and four panelists who are members of ANSS Santé Plus Burundi, PNLS Côte d’Ivoire, Espace Confiance (Côte d’Ivoire), and the Bureau d’Appui Santé et Environnement (Chad).

Participants highlighted the projects supported by the French Development Agency and L’Initiative, emphasizing the need for an integrated approach.

The discussions led to recommendations such as strengthening collaboration between health programs, advocating for funding for integration, continuing efforts for physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being especially for adolescents, as well as including men in sexual and reproductive health by examining prostate cancer.

Key moments at ICASA 2023, these roundtables demonstrate the Initiative’s commitment to finding innovative solutions to combat HIV. The lessons learned and partnerships initiated strengthen our determination to continue our commitment to combat HIV and sexually transmitted infections, for global health.

As part of this commitment by France, we had the pleasure of being welcomed by the French ambassador to Zimbabwe.