April 1, 2015

 ICASO and the Health Global Access Project (Health GAP) are excited to announce a new partnership. The two organizations are collaborating on a new project to support civi l society-led monitoring efforts and advocacy to ensure that the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) continue to play a strong role in the global AIDS response.

 “Our strength lies in the partnerships we build with civil society organizations, working together to accelerate and intensify the fight against HIV. We are excited about this opportunity to strengthen our partnership with Health GAP—a long-standing ally in the global AIDS response,” said Mary Ann Torres, Executive Director of ICASO. 

 The planned three-year project will involve regional efforts in the Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa. In-depth engagement with civil society partners in Uganda and Malawi will contribute to the regional efforts to ensure that major global health initiatives achieve higher impact, and are more effective and responsive to the needs of the communities most affected by the AIDS epidemic. Through coordinated advocacy at the country-level, as well as in the halls of power in Geneva and Washington, D.C., Health GAP and ICASO will collaborate to secure funding for the Global Fund and PEPFAR.

 Health GAP brings a wealth of knowledge of PEPFAR and the Global Fund’s processes, policies and strategies, as well as extensive experience building the capacity of civil society partners and communities in Uganda, Kenya, and other heavily impacted countries, to support efforts to influence the priorities and practices of the Global Fund and PEPFAR at the country-level—where it matters most.

 “The strides we have made in responding to the global AIDS pandemic over the last decade would not have been possible without strong collaboration among civil society activists. We are at a critical moment where the science suggests that we can actually end the AIDS crisis.  Achieving this target will not be possible without increased funding, policies that are responsive to communities’ needs, and the leadership of mobilized, vigilant, informed activists working across North-South divides. Health GAP is excited to join with ICASO in helping to advance this effort,” said Asia Russell, Executive Director of Health GAP.

 Visit ICASO and Health GAP for updates and information about the project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.