adolescent girls and young women

ABSTRACT School closures as a measure to contain the spread of COVID-19 has not only deprived young people of learning opportunities but has had other negative consequences for them as well. A surge in teenage pregnancies has been attributed to school closures and lockdowns during the COVID-19 crisis that left girls vulnerable to social situations conducive to sexual violence and abuse (including rape by close family members). This indicates that the gains made in the fight against HIV, and sexual and reproductive health services are being eroded. Governments need to include sexual and reproductive health services in their COVID-19 response plans, ensure that young people have access to these services, and consider the safe reopening of schools.

ABSTRACT With the world’s largest HIV epidemic, and one third of all new HIV infections in the country affecting adolescent girls and young women, South Africa faces a monumental challenge in addressing prevention for the youth population. With the biggest Global Fund investment so far in a program focused on adolescent girls and young women, South Africa will take this on, targeting not only youth but also their sexual partners, caregivers and communities.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund Board has approved another $229.4 million in funding for 16 country grants. The grants emanated from funding requests submitted by nine countries. The Board also approved $24.0 million for three multi-country grants. Interventions worth $127.4 million were added to the Unfunded Quality Demand Register. Of the $229.4 million for country grants, Nigeria led the way with three grants valued at $71.2 million.

ABSTRACT A new report from ICASO published on January 8, 2019, highlights improvements in Malawi’s Global Fund program during the 2017-2019 funding cycle. The authors summarize the report’s findings for the GFO. The total funding requested for key and vulnerable populations rose dramatically, and service packages for these groups were defined in greater detail. According to the report, a broad and systematic community engagement process contributed to these positive changes. However, community monitoring initiatives are direly needed to ensure greater accountability during grant implementation.

ABSTRACT The Technical Review Panel says the proposed programs in Zambia’s TB/HIV funding request will reduce gender- and age-related disparities and close the gaps in service delivery for key populations. The TRP had some concerns, but they were well addressed during grant-making.

ABSTRACT Mozambique’s new TB/HIV grants will have a strong focus on retention and adherence for people who were recently initiated on antiretroviral treatment. According to the Technical Review Panel, civil society, including representatives of key populations, were fully engaged in the development of the funding request. Among the concerns raised by the TRP was that the interventions to improve treatment outcomes for multiple-drug-resistant TB were not clearly articulated. In addition, the TRP sent two matching funds requests back for iteration.

ABSTRACT In funding requests submitted to the Global Fund in window 1 and window 2, more than $100 million was proposed for adolescent girls and young women. In an eight-country analysis, the Global Fund has indicated that gender and gender-based violence was prioritized in seven out of eight countries, while no country has so far prioritized post-exposure prophylaxis or social protection. The Technical Review Panel has urged countries to use evidence-based ap

ABSTRACT On 23 May 2017, Tanzania requested $703.4 million from the Global Fund for its HIV, TB and malaria programs as well as for building resilient and sustainable systems for health. Two new civil society principal recipients will implement a host of new and innovative interventions, including finding TB cases through “boda bodas” and “sputum fixers” and combining condoms with sanitary wear in dignity packs provided to out-of-school girls.

ABSTRACT UNAIDS estimates that ending AIDS by 2030 will cost about $25 billion a year. A quarter (26%) of this amount is required for HIV prevention. A new study from ICASO and EANNASO finds that the Global Fund’s current HIV prevention investments in Africa fall short of this benchmark. Across 15 countries, 15% of HIV and TB/HIV Global Fund grants from the 2014-2016 funding cycle are spent on HIV prevention interventions.

ABSTRACT In sub-Saharan Africa, there are about 8,600 new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women every week. The Global Fund’s new Strategy for 2017-2022 places increased emphasis on reaching this group, including measuring HIV incidence among women aged 15-24 as a key performance indicator. To achieve its objectives, an additional $55 million on top of country allocations is earmarked for the scale-up of HIV prevention among AGYW in the 2017-2019 funding cycle.