Deadline: 12-Oct-21
The AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC) is seeking applications for Advocacy Fellows Program to support emerging and mid-career advocates to design and implement advocacy projects focused on HIV prevention in their countries and communities.
In addition to this focus on HIV, Fellows’ project goals may also incorporate a focus on broader health equity, structural issues and/or TB or COVID-19 prevention. Advocacy Fellows carry out their projects while based at Host Organizations that serve as active partners in the Fellows Program process.
Goals
- The program’s primary goal is to expand and strengthen the capacity of civil society advocates and organizations to monitor and help shape the global response to HIV- prevention research and the rapid rollout of new and effective interventions in low- and middle-income countries with high HIV burdens.
- Advancing this goal requires a focus on biomedical, structural, social and behavioral considerations as well as linked epidemics such as TB and COVID-19.
- The program is guided by the belief that effective, sustainable advocacy grows from the interests and priorities of individuals and country level organizations. In addition, successful advocacy, in the experience, is led by passionate advocates who are motivated to bring change. The Fellows program is implemented through a close collaboration among the Advocacy Fellow, the Host Organization and AVAC.
What support does the Fellows Program provide?
- Knowledge building, technical support, mentorship and advocacy development to implement projects that advance HIV prevention, and may also address COVID-19 prevention and the structural factors that drive epidemics and pandemics. Both Advocacy Fellows and their Host Organizations gain these benefits.
- Connection to a global network of advocates, including current and alumni AVAC Fellows, researchers, implementers, government representatives, civil society leaders and other individuals and organizations in the field of health and rights.
- Financial support for project implementation over 12 months. Through a grant to the Host organization, the Fellow will receive full-time salary support, a budget for project execution and access to a discretionary fund for specific travel, infrastructure needs, and information technology (IT) needs.
- Overhead administration funding to the Host Organization to cover costs associated with hosting a Fellow will be included in the grant. Overhead costs incurred by the organization to administer the grant refer to expenses that are not directly attributed to the activity of the Fellows’ project. Examples include: a portion of rent, phone, and some personnel costs of the Host Organization such as the Host Supervisor’s time, accounting and administrative staff time. Overhead costs are calculated at 15 percent of the total grant for indirect costs and an additional 10 percent specifically allocated for supervision and mentorship support.
- Increased skillset, including communications, project management, research literacy, advocacy and convening.
What projects can an Advocacy Fellow propose?
- Advocacy Fellows design and execute activities to affect specific changes along the continuum of HIV prevention research to rollout in their chosen contexts at the community, national or regional level.
- A successful project proposal identifies a gap or need that can be filled by civil society engagement, maps the steps and activities to fill that gap, defines targets and desired outcomes, identifies allies and provides ways to measure progress and evaluate whether the change has occurred.
- The Fellows program is not intended for developing or conducting a research project nor is it to build research capacity. The ultimate objective is to enhance advocacy skills to pave the way for ethical development of and global access to effective HIV and COVID-19 prevention options, as part of a comprehensive and integrated pathway to global health equity.
- Priority will be given to projects in eastern and southern Africa where biomedical HIV prevention research is planned or ongoing (for new PrEP formulations and compounds, multi-purpose prevention technologies, antibodies, vaccines, and cure research) and/or where there is a need for the delivery or scale-up of proven biomedical interventions.
- Applicants interested in influencing the HIV prevention research process are encouraged to consider proposals that address trial design, results dissemination, community engagement, and planning for access to eventual products.
Eligibility Criteria
- Emerging or mid-career community leaders and advocates interested in strengthening advocacy skills and advocating for HIV prevention. While the primary focus is on HIV biomedical prevention interventions, applicants can also incorporate advocacy that includes COVID-19 prevention.
- Individuals with experience or education in HIV and/or COVID-19 or other areas of public health, or in advocacy for key populations, such as sex workers, LGBTQ individuals and drug users, among others, or in advocacy for social and economic justice.
- Individuals based in low- and middle-income countries with high HIV burdens and where HIV prevention research is ongoing or where new interventions are being introduced. To see where HIV research and rollout is being conducted. Please note that for 2022 fellowships, the priority focus is on eastern and southern Africa.
- Those proficient in the English language.
- Those able to demonstrate awareness of ongoing HIV or COVID-19 prevention in respective countries and a willingness to learn more, although extensive knowledge is not required. They must also provide a strategic analysis of how to influence local landscapes.
For more information, visit https://www.avac.org/fellows/applications