News and events

Supporting local leadership in uncertain times

Our final transition blog reflects on the progress of Avert’s transition partners despite them now operating in a sector in shock and crisis.

Thanks for all your support

With our transition work wrapping up, it’s time to say thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years, including our valued staff and suppliers.

Shaping the future of Be in the KNOW

Tinashe Madamombe talks to Mumbi Kanyogo and Terry Gachie from Avert’s takeover partner, Kenya Comms Hub, about their future plans for Be in the KNOW, now under their leadership.

Empowering communities: a new chapter for Boost in Zimbabwe

Tinashe Madamombe talks to Karen Webb and Ketty Choga from Avert’s takeover partner OPHID about their future plans for Avert’s job aid for community health workers, Boost.

Himarika - a new brand for East Africa

Simon Moore talks to Annrita Ikahu and Robert Kimathi from Avert’s takeover partner LVCT Health about their future plans for Avert’s job aid for community health workers, Boost.

Celebrating a good ending and a great new beginning

Sarah Hand and Simon Moore reflect on the learning from Avert’s successful handover of its high impact digital health brands to new owners in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Old memories, new beginnings

On 22 November 2024, Avert and friends celebrated the organisation’s contribution to the HIV response, and marked the handover of its work to three new organisations in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Youth Boost: a stepping stone for expansion

The Youth Boost project in Zimbabwe put Boost into the hands of hundreds of OPHID’s Community Outreach Agents (COAs). Lucy Gale and Simon Moore reflect on the project’s achievements and learning.

Changing behaviours through digital health communications

Simon Moore reports on the results of a 12-month project which used behaviour change analysis to understand health learning journeys on Be in the KNOW and drive brand improvement.

Putting our transition strategy into action

Avert is delivering on its commitment to transition its high impact digital health brands to new owners in East and Southern Africa.

AIDS 2024: A time for collective action

Avert reflects on updates from the 25th International AIDS conference in Munich and considers the ongoing importance of health literacy in the global effort to end AIDS.

Building young people’s confidence to talk about sex and intimacy

Young Africa Live combined a chatbot and social media to boost the knowledge, confidence and uptake of services among young people in South Africa. Simon Moore highlights some of what was learned.

Progress and change: Avert’s 2023-24 annual report

The latest Avert annual report is both a celebration of a successful final year of our current strategy, and a milestone signalling a new chapter for our work.

Two years of being in the know

Director of Programmes Simon Moore highlights the achievements of Avert’s Be in the KNOW brand during its second year.

Setting a bold new direction that’s responsive and responsible

Avert’s new strategy focuses on transitioning our flagship products to African-led organisations who can best ensure they continue to grow and thrive.

Let’s talk about sexual health

Avert is helping young people start conversations with partners and doctors about HIV and sexual health, enabling them to protect themselves and live healthily.

Supporting self-care at every stage

Avert is supporting self-care through a range of digital approaches that open up access to health information, enable privacy, and build confidence and agency.

Understanding health learning journeys

Simon Moore sets out how we have been taking a novel behaviour change approach to better understand our audiences’ behavioural aims and actions

ICASA 2023: Progress is being achieved but there is still so much to do

Our highlights and reflections from the 22nd Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa and progress towards ending AIDS by 2030

A year of impact: Avert’s 2022-23 annual report

Our new Annual Report for 2022-23, showcases our strides to bridge the gaps in HIV and sexual health knowledge, confidence, and skills – empowering individuals and communities worldwide

Why it’s time to let communities lead

Communities most affected by HIV are at the heart of what we do at Avert – co-creating content and amplifying community voices to ensure our brands and platforms have the greatest impact

Pressing play on pleasure

Why Be in the KNOW’s new sexual health video series for young people is unashamedly sexy

Knowledge first webinar

A summary of Avert and OPHID’s webinar, looking at how digital can support community health workers’ work

Conversations for change

New Unicef podcasts highlight Avert’s work supporting innovative health literacy approaches

Why it’s time to celebrate sexual pleasure

Pleasure is one of the main reasons people have sex. So why is it missing from so many sexual health programmes?

Integrating female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) into standard SRH practices

FGS impacts the health and well-being of 56 million women and girls worldwide, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet FGS is little talked about and often misunderstood

The first year of Be in the KNOW

One year on since the launch of Be in the KNOW, we look back at key achievements and learnings from the first 12 months of Avert’s new digital brand

Voices from the 3rd International Community Health Workers Symposium

Reflecting on discussions, Silvia Poggioli suggests equipping community health workers with an effective job-aide like Boost is investing in quality care for all

Exploring the sexual health information behaviour of young Zambian men

‘Mavenism’ provides a promising research lens to understand the sexual health information behaviours of young men in Zambia and elsewhere, says Avert’s Director of Programmes Simon Moore

Addressing the digital divide: lessons learnt developing the Yaya app

Reaching low-literacy, out-of-school, adolescent girls in Mozambique with vital information about their SRHR has required a considered and innovative approach, shaped by the girls themselves

How closing knowledge gaps can be a powerful force in the fight against inequalities

This Word AIDS Day UNAIDS is urging us to address the inequalities that stand in the way of ending AIDS. But to challenge inequalities takes agency and self-efficacy – and for this access to information is vital

Health Literacy Matters: Avert releases its 2021-22 Annual Report

Our new 2021-22 Annual Report brings to life the exciting work carried out during the first year of our 2021-24 global strategy to close the HIV knowledge gap and build health literacy

Why there has never been a better time to close the HIV knowledge gap

Avert’s CEO, Sarah Hand, on how digital technologies are helping more and more people access the information they need to look after their sexual health

Addressing Female Genital Schistosomiasis: integration with HIV and SRHR is vital

Avert’s CEO, Sarah Hand, explains the importance of integrating FGS with HIV and SRHR, and how Avert is taking action

Are you in the know about Be in the KNOW?

Our exciting new sexual health and HIV brand, Be in the KNOW, has arrived! Here we explain what it is and why we’ve said goodbye to our old friend Avert.org

World AIDS Day 2021: six milestone moments in the HIV response

To mark World AIDS Day, we reflect on the progress achieved since 1981, when the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention first reported on what would come to be known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome – AIDS

Maximising the positive potential of digital communications in HIV and sexual health responses

A summary of Avert’s webinar held on 22 July 2021

Knowledge is power – it’s time to close the HIV knowledge gap

Avert CEO, Sarah Hand, discusses the importance of health literacy in the HIV response, and the positive potential of digital communications in achieving global HIV targets

Community health workers make the difference!

Hear from three community health workers in southern Africa as they share their experiences of the job and the challenges they face in their work