Concept Note for "Reimagining Resilience: National Conference on HIV/AIDS Response in India"

On behalf of Global Alliance for Human Rights (GAHR) and its partners, for the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO)

1. Conference Title: Reimagining Resilience: National Conference on HIV/AIDS Response in India

2. Purpose: To convene a national-level conference addressing emerging challenges in India’s HIV response. The event aims to foster innovation, center community voices in policy and practice, and co-create community-led, equity-focused solutions. This conference is aligned with the priorities of NACP Phase VI and the Global 2030 AIDS targets, specifically the 95-95-95 goals.

3. Overview: The "Reimagining Resilience" conference is a 3-day hybrid event, scheduled for November 29th to December 1st, 2025, at the Rajasthan International Center, Jaipur, Rajasthan. It is spearheaded by the Global Alliance for Human Rights (GAHR) in collaboration with NAZ Foundation India, the National Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+), State Level Networks (SLN), and District Level Networks (DLN). The conference is backed by NACO, State AIDS Control Organizations, and other key stakeholders.

The event will bring together 300–500 participants from government agencies, civil society organizations, PLHIV networks, research institutions, legal professionals, and development sectors. The primary goal is to co-create actionable strategies to meet India's 2030 AIDS elimination goals.

4. Why Now? India is at a critical juncture in its HIV response. Key challenges necessitate an urgent, unified, and rights-based national dialogue:

• Rising HIV incidence, particularly among key populations.
• Service gaps and treatment dropouts exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Persistent stigma, gender inequities, and legal barriers.
• Underutilization of digital, peer-led, and community-based tools.

5. Conference Goals & Objectives:

• Review and Align: To review the progress of NACP Phase V and align future strategies with the SDG 95-95-95 targets and NACP Phase VI priorities.
• Innovate: To showcase and promote scalable community-led innovations, peer-led prevention models (e.g., PrEP, long-acting ART), and digital health solutions.
• Strengthen Partnerships: To build and strengthen cross-sector collaborations between government (NACO, RSACS), PLHIV networks, civil society, legal experts, and research bodies.
• Co-create Policy: To develop actionable, equity-focused policy briefs and recommendations that are directly informed by community voices and data.
• Amplify Community Voices: To center the leadership and experiences of People Living with HIV (PLHIV), LGBTQ+ communities, sex workers, and injecting drug users.

6. Target Participants:

• Government Agencies: NACO, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), State AIDS Control Societies (SACS).
• Community: PLHIV Networks (INP+, SLNs, DLNs), LGBTQ Networks, Sex Workers Networks, Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) Networks, and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).
• Experts: Public health academics, legal experts, healthcare providers, and researchers.
• Partners: UNAIDS, ICMR, UN agencies, donors (Global Fund, CSR wings), and development partners.
• International Delegates: 25-30 participants from abroad, including scientists and experts.

7. Program Highlights & Themes: The conference will feature a diverse program designed to facilitate learning and collaboration.

Themes:

• Epidemiological shifts and enhanced surveillance.
• Peer-led prevention strategies, including PrEP and long-acting ART.
• Digital health, AI, and telehealth for outreach and tracking.
• Legal reform, human rights, and stigma reduction.
• Integration of HIV services with primary care, TB/Hep C co-infections, mental health, and social protection schemes.

Formats:

• Academic Sessions (Nov 29-30): Keynote addresses, abstract-driven panels, poster sessions, and technical workshops.
• Community & Advocacy Sessions (Dec 1): Community storytelling, innovation expos, and real-time policy drafting. This day will also include an awards ceremony to honor outstanding contributions under NACP Phase V.
• Hybrid Format: Allowing for both in-person and virtual participation to maximize reach.
• Pre-conference Activities: District-level consultations and the formation of Community Advisory Boards (CABs) to ensure broad-based community input.

8. Governance & Partnerships:

• Lead Organizers: Global Alliance for Human Rights (GAHR) and Naz Foundation India.
• Key Partners: INP+, LGBTQ Networks, Sex Workers Networks, IDUs Networks, UNAIDS, legal and academic bodies.
• Funding: The conference will be financed through a multi-pronged approach, including support from NACO, UNAIDS, Global Fund, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, private donors, sponsorships, and registration fees.

9. Expected Outcomes:

• Policy: A national policy brief with actionable recommendations to be fed into the drafting and implementation of NACP Phase VI.
• Innovation: A catalog of scalable service models (e.g., peer navigation, community testing) and innovative digital tools.
• Partnerships: Formation of new partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between key stakeholders to enhance collaboration.
• Roadmap: A shared roadmap for creating a stigma-free, integrated, and resilient HIV service delivery system in India.

10. Timeline:

• Dates Confirmed: November 29th to December 1st, 2025.
• Venue Confirmed: Rajasthan International Center, Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• Program Structure:
• Nov 29 & 30: Academic Sessions.
• Dec 1: Community Celebration, Commitment Pledges, and Awards Ceremony for best practices under NACP Phase V.