Emerging Lessons from the DREAMS Innovation Challenge
November 28th, 2018 | news
Despite considerable progress in the global response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic, AIDS remains the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa, where three-quarters of new infections are among girls ages 15-19. DREAMS, a global public-private partnership led by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), is committed to reducing new HIV infections among AGYW in 10 sub-Saharan African countries. The partnership was created to address the structural drivers that increase girls’ HIV risk, including poverty, gender inequality, sexual violence, and lack of education.
Under the DREAMS Innovation Challenge, 46 global and local organizations received two-year grants to implement innovative solutions to reduce HIV infections among AGYW. Funded by PEPFAR through the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, U.S. Department of State, and managed by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., innovations covered six focus areas: strengthening the community response, keeping girls in secondary school, linking young men to HIV services, supporting Pre Exposure Prophylaxis for AGYW, post-secondary bridge to employment, and applying data for DREAMS.
Join JSI along with the Wilson Center’s Maternal Health Initiative and World Vision, Inc. on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST at the Wilson Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004 for a discussion with three DREAMS IC grantees and beneficiaries who will present their experience and preliminary findings from their innovations to keep girls in school and support young women’s economic empowerment.
Opening Remarks
Angeli Achrekar
Principal Deputy Coordinator, Acting, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State
Rebecca Acio
Adolescent Girl Ambassador, School-Community Accountability for Girls Education (SAGE) DREAMS Project, World Vision Uganda
Speakers
Rita Laura Lulua
Project Director, SAGE-DREAMS Project, World Vision Uganda
Jane Kinney Meyers
Founder and President, Lubuto Library Partners
Constantine Obuya
Executive Director, The African Centre for Women, Information and Communications Technology (ACWICT)
Sheila Omolo
DREAMS, Bridge to Employment Beneficiary, Kenya
Moderator
Folami Harris
Project Director, DREAMS IC Funds Manager, JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc.
