Announcing the Call for 2016 Advocacy Fellows

AVAC is pleased to announce the call for 2016 Advocacy Fellows.

This update provides information on the Advocacy Fellows program, the application process, link to a short informational video and details on an upcoming informational call for interested applicants to be held on Wednesday, 8 July 2015.

The submission deadline for Advocacy Fellows applications is Monday, 10 August 2015.

Download application materials at www.avac.org/fellows-application-materials.

About the Program
The goal of AVAC’s Advocacy Fellows program is to expand the capacity of advocates and organizations to monitor, support and help shape biomedical HIV prevention research and implementation of proven interventions worldwide. The program is guided by AVAC’s conviction that effective and sustainable advocacy grows out of work that reflects organizational and individual interests, priorities and partnerships.

The Advocacy Fellows program provides support to emerging and mid-career advocates to design and implement advocacy projects focused on biomedical HIV prevention research and implementation activities in their countries and communities. These projects are designed to addresses locally identified gaps and priorities. 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. Host organizations are critical partners in the program and Fellows projects can be an opportunity for an organization to further develop its own work in this field.

The Fellows program focuses on low- and middle-income countries where clinical research on HIV vaccines, microbicides, multi-purpose prevention technologies, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and cure is planned or ongoing and/or where there is implementation or plans for rollout for newer proven interventions such as voluntary medical male circumcision, PrEP, early treatment, high impact combination prevention packages that combine biomedical strategies for population impact, and where the links between sexual and reproductive health and HIV risk for women are being studied.

HIV Prevention Research Advocacy Fellows are:

• Emerging or mid-career community leaders and advocates involved or interested in advocacy around biomedical HIV prevention research and implementation.
• Individuals with some experience or education in the areas of HIV and AIDS, public health, medicine, international development, women’s rights, communications, and/or advocacy with key populations, such as sex workers, gay men, other men who have sex with men and transgender women and people who inject drugs.
• Based in low- and middle-income countries where biomedical HIV prevention clinical research is planned and/or where implementation of combination prevention packages is planned, ongoing or emerging.
• Able to collaborate with English-speaking mentors.

Please visit www.avac.org/pxrd to identify countries where research and implementation is ongoing or planned and to learn more about the research.

Learn More
Prospective applicants or host organizations who want to learn more about this program or have questions about the application process are encouraged to:

• Watch a three-minute video featuring past Fellows, host supervisors and AVAC staff reflecting on the program.
• Download the 2016 Advocacy Fellows Information Packet and application materials at www.avac.org/fellows-application-materials.
• Visit AVAC's Fellows page for more information on current and alumni Fellows.
• Join an informational conference call to learn more about the program and ask questions directly to those who lead the program and/or have been a part of it on Wednesday, 8 July, at 7am Lima / 8am New York / 9am Rio / 2pm Johannesburg / 3pm Nairobi / 5:30pm Mumbai / 7pm Bangkok (Visit www.timeanddate.com to confirm the time in your time zone.) Register for the call here. [The call will be recorded and loaded to the Fellows page.]

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

Applications are due by MONDAY, 10 AUGUST 2015.