New PEPFAR Youth Initiative: $20 Million to Address HIV/AIDS Among Youth

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), led by the State Department’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, announced a new $20 million initiative to strengthen youth-focused HIV programming, center youth HIV leadership, and promote innovation in HIV prevention, case finding, and treatment outcomes in PEPFAR-supported countries. Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Senior Bureau Official for Global Health Security and Diplomacy, made the announcement about PEPFAR’s Youth Initiative during a hybrid youth special session in Cape Town, South Africa, alongside thousands of youth from around the world.

HIV/AIDS remains a health threat globally and is among the leading causes of death in Africa, which has the fastest growing and youngest population of any continent. Young people are at a high risk for HIV infection and generally have lower rates of being on lifesaving treatment and being virally suppressed relative to adults. Adolescent girls and young women bear a disproportionate burden of new HIV infections among young people, accounting for nearly two out of three new HIV infections among young people globally. In addition to PEPFAR’s ongoing programming to close equity gaps among priority populations, one of the goals of the Youth Initiative is to support innovations for effective HIV awareness, prevention, and treatment strategies that engage youth-led and youth-driven organizations. PEPFAR also aims to strengthen the capacity of youth-led organizations and elevate youth leadership to improve their engagement with country governments, the private sector, and global stakeholders in the HIV/AIDS response.

Young people are catalysts for change and innovation in the fight to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The United States, through PEPFAR, has saved more than 25 million lives and remains a committed partner in the global effort to increase engagement and amplify the voices of youth in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The PEPFAR Youth Initiative is subject to availability of appropriated funds and completion of congressional notification procedures.

For media inquiries, please contact GHSD_publicaffairs@state.gov.