by Andisheh Nouraee
May 24, 2011

Access Africa’s second annual learning event opened today in Accra, Ghana.

Today through Thursday, we plan to review Access Africa’s strategy and methodology in the 28 African countries where CARE's signature program now operates.

Just as the name suggests, the agenda is improvement through learning. With 2.5 million participants in 28 countries across the continent, the people at this meeting have had a wide diversity of experience to share with each other.

“It’s an African movement for African people,” said Access Africa program director Lauren Hendricks in her opening remarks. “Everything we know about how to do [savings-led microfinance services] and how to reach the people most in need, we’ve learned from the people in this room.”

Today’s agenda: reviewing Access Africa’s growth targets and best practices for our continued expansion. With 2.5 million participants, Access Africa is already the largest non-governmental organization providing savings-led financial services in Africa. CARE with our Access Africa program is on pace to reach 30 million women and men in Africa with financial services by 2019. With the entire household benefiting from these services, that’s 150 million people moving out of poverty!

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May 2011

Dear Advocates,

AVAC is pleased to announce the call for applications for the 2012 HIV Prevention Research Advocacy Fellowship Program. This update provides information on the Advocacy Fellowship program and details for an upcoming informational call to be held on Wednesday, June 1.

The submission deadline for the Advocacy Fellowship applications is Monday, July 15, 2011.

Visit the AVAC Fellows page – http://www.avac.org/fellows – to download application materials.

The goal of AVAC’s HIV Prevention Research Advocacy Fellowship is to expand the capacity of civil society advocates and organizations to monitor, support and help shape biomedical HIV prevention research and related implementation worldwide. The Advocacy Fellowship is guided by the belief that effective and sustainable advocacy grows out of work that reflects organizational and individual interests and priorities.

The Advocacy Fellowship provides support to emerging and mid-career advocates in developing countries to design and implement advocacy projects focused on biomedical HIV prevention research activities in their countries and communities. The Advocacy Fellowship is primarily focused on countries where biomedical prevention research is planned or ongoing. Advocacy Fellows carry out their projects while based at host organizations that are active partners in the Fellowship process.

HIV Prevention Research Advocacy Fellows are:

• Emerging or mid-career community leaders and advocates interested in building their skills in understanding and advocating around HIV prevention research
• Individuals with some experience or education in the areas of HIV and AIDS, public health, international development, women's rights, communications and/or advocacy
• Based in developing countries where biomedical HIV prevention clinical research is planned or ongoing or medical male circumcision for HIV prevention is being introduced
• Able to collaborate with English-speaking mentors

Fellows receive training, full-time financial support and technical assistance to plan and implement a targeted one-year project within host organizations working in HIV/AIDS and/or advocacy. The Fellowship builds the capacity of both the Fellow and the respective host organization in HIV prevention research advocacy.

Interested in learning more about the Fellowship Program?

Prospective applicants or host organizations who want to learn more about this program or have questions about the application process are encouraged to read the 2012 Fellowship Information Packet and invited to join an informational conference call:

Informational Call: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011
9am EDT USA / 8am Lima / 11am Rio / 3pm South Africa / 4pm East Africa / 8pm India
(Visit www.timeanddate.com to confirm the time in your time zone.)

If you would like to join the call please register here.

Learn about the current Advocacy Fellows and their projects
2012 is the third year of the Advocacy Fellowship. Visit AVAC's Fellows page for more on the 2010 and 2011 Advocacy Fellows and their projects.

All 2012 Advocacy Fellowship applications are due by FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011.

If you have any questions about the Fellowship program or the application process, please email fellows@avac.org.

We hope you'll share this information with your partners, and we look forward to receiving your application!