Recognizing the persistent and harmful impact that COVID-19 and related lockdown measures pose for the HIV response, governments across ESA region continue to implement interventions to sustain and further advance hard won gains toward ending AIDS. One year after the release of UNICEF's Compendium of innovative approaches to HIV programming in Eastern and Southern Africa in the context of COVID-19, this new Volume II describes results achieved in the nine countries highlighted in Volume I and shares experiences from an additional eight countries. This collective work demonstrates how countries are building upon the learning and architecture of the HIV response to proactively mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic while scaling up efforts to achieve global HIV goals, resulting in stronger responses and resilient systems for both HIV and COVID-19. Many of the adaptations and innovations described have had a positive impact beyond sustaining HIV services during COVID-19 and are demonstrating exciting opportunities to build back better with more flexible and resilient systems.

This Technical Brief provides updated guidance to Global Fund applicants and implementers to leverage Global Fund financing that will further advance progress in scaling up effective programming for AGYW, in line with global partner guidance and global targets and initiatives such as the Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free Joint Agenda and the Global HIV Prevention Coalition Agenda.

L’éducation complète à la sexualité (ECS)1 est primordiale pour préparer les jeunes à une vie sûre, productive et épanouissante dans un monde où le VIH et le SIDA, les infections sexuellement transmissibles (IST), les grossesses non désirées, la violence basée sur le genre et les inégalités entre les sexes continuent de présenter des risques graves pour leur bien-être. Cependant, bien que les bienfaits d’une ECS de qualité fondée sur le programme scolaire aient été montrés de manière claire et irréfutable, peu d’enfants et de jeunes sont dotés des moyens de prendre le contrôle de leur vie et de faire, librement et de façon responsable, des choix éclairés concernant leur sexualité et leurs relations interpersonnelles.

Nombreux sont ceux qui, entrant dans l’âge adulte, ont entendu des messages contradictoires, négatifs et déroutants sur la sexualité, messages bien souvent exacerbés par la gêne et le silence des adultes, notamment des parents et des enseignants. Dans bien des sociétés, les attitudes et les lois découragent le débat public sur la sexualité et le comportement sexuel, et les normes sociales peuvent perpétuer des situations préjudiciables, telles que l’inégalité des genres dans le contexte des relations sexuelles, de la planification familiale et de l’utilisation de contraceptifs modernes.

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) plays a central role in the preparation of young people for a safe, productive, fulfilling life in a world where HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence (GBV) and gender inequality still pose serious risks to their well-being. However, despite clear and compelling evidence for the benefits of high-quality, curriculum-based CSE, few children and young people receive preparation for their lives that empowers them to take control and make informed decisions about their sexuality and relationships freely and responsibly.

Countries are increasingly acknowledging the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to make responsible choices in their lives, particularly in a context where they have greater exposure to sexually explicit material through the Internet and other media.

RESPECT women: Preventing violence against women

Violence against women is a major public health problem rooted in gender inequality, and is a gross violation of women’s human rights affecting the lives and health of millions of women and girls. Aiming to end violence against women, a package/framework with infographics on prevention of violence against women - RESPECT – Preventing violence against women: A framework for policymakers, was developed, based on the UN framework for action to prevent violence against women from 2015 and updated new evidence.

• R –elationship skills strengthened
• E –mpowerment of women
• S –ervices ensured
• P –overty reduced
• E –nvironments made safe
• C –hild and adolescent abuse prevented
• T –ransformed attitudes, beliefs, and norms

Envision for Girls Data Hub

Envision for Girls is a data hub that maps programmes and highlights opportunities for realizing the well-being of adolescent girls and young women

Guidance for PEPFAR country teams on the DREAMS Partnership

This programming guidance is meant to inform programmes that aim to reduce HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women in countries and locations where HIV incidence is high among adolescent girls and young women and where HIV is primarily spread through heterosexual transmission. This report primarily is for policymakers, planners and implementers of HIV prevention programmes across multiple sectors, including organizations led by young people. The document also is useful for experts in wider health and social sector programmes, including health workers and teaching staff, or any other professionals who can integrate dimensions of HIV prevention into their area of work.