Bridging the Gaps partners in South Africa work towards ending AIDS among key populations through (1) a strengthened civil society that holds government to account; (2) increased fulfilment of human rights of key populations; and (3) increased SRHR and fewer infections.

Sex workers, people of who use drugs and LGBT people

South Africa has the largest HIV epidemic in the world. In 2014, an estimated 6.8 million people were living with HIV, with a national HIV prevalence rate of 18.9% among the adult population. Efforts have been largely financed by South Africa’s own domestic resources ($1 billion annually), but the gap between available and required funding for HIV, STIs and TB is expected to grow. South Africa‘s HIV epidemic is generalised, but key populations are particularly at a higher risk for HIV transmission. Despite South Africa's strong constitutional protections for human rights and its relative success in providing basic services, the government continues to struggle to meet the demands in social, health and economic rights. Access to healthcare remains limited due to stigma and discrimination among service providers, weak and overburdened health systems, services that are not tailored to the needs, and inability to reach underserved key populations. Another major challenge is the high unemployment rates among key populations, criminalisation of drug use and sex work, and current laws and policies that do not yet reflect the rights and needs of intersex and transgender people.