Meaningful engagement of communities
Meaningful engagement of communities
Communities know best what works for them. People in communities know what works in practice and are aware of local needs, sensitivities and challenges. That's why we always put local communities of people exposed to and most affected by HIV at the heart of our programmes. We believe that decision-making processes should integrate diverse perspectives and lived experiences as an effective and sustainable solution to end HIV/AIDS.
Advisory panels
Our commitment to community-driven decision-making lies at the heart of our 2022-2025 strategy. We passionately believe that empowering the communities most affected is the key to impactful change. Community members possess exceptional insights into what works and what does not, thanks to their deep understanding of the intersections between issues and solutions. The advisory panels of Aidsfonds and Robert Carr Fund serve as the architects of programs and grantmaking.
Examples of our advisory panels:
The Paediatric HIV Advisory Panel (2023-2024) advises Aidsfonds on paediatric HIV strategies, models, and funding mechanisms, as well as to collaborate in the decision-making process for funding, including Aidsfonds’ calls for proposals aiming to expanding the Kids to Care model to Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Indonesia/West Papua under the paediatric HIV programs.
The Robert Carr Fund's Program Advisory Panel (PAP) reviews grant proposals and makes recommendations for funding to the ISC, and also provides on-going programmatic advice to the Robert Carr Fund about opportunities for funding, grantee capacity building and technical support, and monitoring and evaluation.
Emergency Response Fund for Ukraine and the region
Since the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine in 2022, we set up the Emergency Support Fund for Ukraine and Neighbouring Countries (ESFU) with the aim to ensure uninterrupted services and safety for people living with and vulnerable to HIV. The fund provides short-term small grants and mid-term support for community-led and community-based organisations in Ukraine and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) countries. Importantly, the granting process is flexible, low-threshold, and fast-paced.
Communities First podcast
With the Communities First podcast, Aidsfonds and the Robert Carr Fund take a deep dive into how we can put communities in the driver’s seat of change. Together with inspiring activists and community leaders, and other funders, we will talk about the “why” of “communities first”, best practices and methods in shifting power in the field of HIV, Health, Rights, and beyond. We will also delve into how funders can move from conventional to community-led approaches, and all the opportunities and challenges that arise from it.
