Khadijah Aliyu -Nigeria
The International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) opened on Wednesday, December 3, with a high-level preliminary session dedicated to capacity building and the empowerment of young people in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV advocacy.
Held at the main auditorium of the International Conference Center in Accra, Ghana, the session brought together youth delegates from across the continent to explore effective communication strategies for driving sustainable change in African communities.
African Leaders Unite to End AIDS, TB, and Malaria at ICASA 2025 Accra
The event highlighted the value of a problem-solving communication model that highlights real human stories while proposing actionable solutions.
A major feature of the session was the presentation led by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the African Society for the Fight Against AIDS (SAA) and other partners.
UNFPA introduced its structured advocacy method known as the “Problem Human Impact Solution” approach an evidence based communication model designed to help young people transform community level data into persuasive narratives for media, policy influence, and social mobilization.
The strategy aims to strengthen youth-led advocacy by linking lived experiences with policy demands.
The session was facilitated by Winnie Tomonkoua of the AfriYAN Regional Office for West and Central Africa, Dr. Esther Somefun, Reproductive Health and Gender Analyst at UNFPA Nigeria, and Coulibaly Zié Oumar, Media Specialist at REMAPSEN, the African Media Network for Health and Environment Promotion.
Together, they introduced key concepts in advocacy and communication for social change.
Explaining the session’s objective, Dr. Somefun said, “Our aim is to equip a large cohort of young delegates with a three-tool advocacy toolkit—practical, shared, and immediately applicable to advance SRH and HIV policies.”
Girls & Young Women Account for 19% of HIV in WCA-UNAIDS
She added that the approach would enable young people “to systematically document community-level data, translate this evidence into compelling narratives for media and social networks, and structure policy briefings capable of influencing decision-makers.”
On implementation, Dr. Somefun noted that UNFPA plans to roll out the new communication model through its capacity-building programs, advocacy campaigns, and youth trainings.
The goal, she said, is to ensure that messages “resonate with the lived realities of youth and encourage them to take action.”
The opening day also highlighted broader issues, particularly the importance of African sovereignty and domestic resource mobilization for health financing.
Delegates stressed that the sustainability of SRH and HIV programs depends heavily on governments’ commitment to allocate sufficient local resources especially for initiatives targeting young people.
By the end of the session, young delegates were equipped with concrete tools to strengthen their advocacy efforts, amplify community voices, and contribute meaningfully to policy reform across the continent.
The day set the tone for deeper strategic dialogue throughout the conference, ensuring youth perspectives remain central in shaping Africa’s health agenda.