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New Grant Advances Women’s Leadership in AIDS Fight
Leading Leading Agencies Join to Mobilize Women Against AIDS Globally WASHINGTON, DC—Leading global agencies including the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW), and the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) will join together under a new Ford Foundation initiative to ensure women and girls are at the center of international AIDS efforts. These agencies have joined together because of the pressing need to empower women and girls in the fight against AIDS. Worldwide, 17.5 million women are living with HIV, and three out of four live in sub-Saharan Africa. More than half of all adults living with HIV in the Caribbean are women, and new HIV infections among women are rising rapidly in Asia and elsewhere. Under the new Ford Foundation initiative, Advancing Women’s Leadership and Advocacy for AIDS Action, CEDPA and its partners will build the leadership, advocacy and technical expertise of women working on the frontlines against AIDS in the developing world. With an initial investment of $650,000 for 2006 activities, CEDPA and its partners will train master trainers who will be equipped to lead regional and national technical and advocacy trainings in subsequent grant years. “There is now a critical need to better equip women and girls with the tools they need to fight HIV/AIDS,” said Susan V. Berresford, President of the Ford Foundation. "By amplifying their voices and building their skills, we can make real progress in stemming the spread of the disease around the world." Complementing this effort will be a small grants program led by the UNAIDS-led Global Coalition on Women and AIDS. The program will support networks of women living with HIV and AIDS in the developing world, many of whom will participate in the training program. Taken together, the Ford Foundation’s investment will equip a cadre of women from around the world to strengthen and lead the global response to AIDS. Armed with new skills, these women will promote better workplace policies on HIV, forge partnerships with religious institutions, advocate for greater availability of treatment, and work with governments to ensure that AIDS policies reflect the realities of women and their families, among other strategies. “We applaud the Ford Foundation for its commitment to empowering women and girls in the fight against AIDS,” said Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO of CEDPA. “This award addresses a critical unmet need in AIDS efforts and builds on the work of CEDPA and other partner organizations to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS and promote equal care and treatment for women and their families.” Founded in 1975, CEDPA is an internationally recognized non-profit organization that improves the lives of women and girls in developing countries. CEDPA’s global programs increase educational opportunities for girls, ensure access to lifesaving reproductive health and HIV/AIDS information and services, and strengthen women’s leadership in their nations. Headquartered in Washington, DC, CEDPA has offices in Egypt, India, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa, and more than 5,000 alumni and partners in over 150 countries worldwide. # # # |
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