Avert is a member of the FGS Integration Group (FIG); a global cross-sectoral coalition bringing together HIV, SRHR and neglected tropical diseases (NTD) actors to address the neglected issue of FGS. FGS stands for female genital schistosomiasis, an overlooked women’s health condition affecting approximately 56 million women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. If left undiagnosed and untreated it can result in serious reproductive health issues, such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and a threefold increased risk for HIV, among the poorest women and girls in Africa.

FIG is co-led by Frontline AIDS and Bridges to Development, with core members LVCT Health, SCI Foundation, Avert, Sightsavers and the Global Schistosomiasis Alliance.

Avert has been supporting the Global Network of People Living with HIV on its Voice+ project since 2020. Voice+ is a smartphone app and WhatsApp chatbot designed to support communications between networks of people living with HIV – providing information on Covid-19 and HIV, community forums, and a way for networks to report on problems and concerns in their locality that in turn can be used to support advocacy and decision-making.

Avert is a content development partner for the Voice+ app and chatbot, and also provides broader M+E and strategy support to the project.

Supported by Mercury Phoenix Trust, during 2021-22 Avert worked with young women and men in Southern Africa to co-create a social media campaign promoting awareness, interest, support and demand for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among young people in the region. As a prevention tool that is within young women’s own control, PrEP offers huge opportunities to protect this group from HIV infection.

Working with user groups of young women and men throughout the project, the materials developed are encouraging young women to access and use PrEP, and change young men’s attitudes so they are supportive of women’s PrEP use.

From May 2018 to December 2019 Avert supported the World Health Organization (WHO) HIV and Hepatitis department on its news and newsletter communications.

Avert was contracted to provide tailored support to the department on its news and newsletter outputs covering HIV and hepatitis, published on the WHO website and through its regular stakeholder newsletters.