Building Resilient Leaders: READY+ Continues to Empower the Next Generation of HIV Advocates Across Southern Africa
[Photo from left to right: Group photo from the RFP Meeting: READY Focal Points from Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique]
Harare, Zimbabwe, February 24 to 26 – Young leaders from across Southern Africa convened in Harare for the READY+ Focal Points Meeting, a high-impact gathering that reinforced the program’s achievements and set the stage for sustainable HIV prevention, treatment, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) initiatives. Representatives from Angola, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe met to discuss ways of strengthening their advocacy strategies and ensuring continued youth leadership in the HIV response.
Led by Y+ Global and supported by Frontline AIDS, the READY+ program continues to empower young people living with and affected by HIV. READY+ has played a pivotal role in shaping national and regional health policies through bold advocacy, digital innovation, and peer-led support systems. The program’s sustained investment in capacity-building has equipped young advocates with the skills and knowledge necessary to influence decision-making and drive meaningful change.
This year’s meeting marked a pivotal moment—bringing together youth advocates to reflect on progress, address challenges, and strategies for continued impact amid shifting funding landscapes. With a renewed focus on sustainability, the Y+ Global team worked closely with country partners to develop work plans aligned with the READY+ model, emphasising the READY to Care Scorecard as a key tool for monitoring service quality and advancing advocacy efforts.
“2025 is a critical year for READY+. We must ensure that youth spaces remain secured and that community and youth-owned structures and movements continue to thrive beyond their initial lifespan.” – Maximina Jokonya, Executive Director of Y+ Global.
Throughout 2024, READY+ interventions focused on equipping young people with knowledge, resources, and platforms to lead health advocacy.
In Malawi, young advocates successfully campaigned for increased government investment in youth health and well-being. Their efforts contributed to the Pact for the Future, and they actively participated in the SAfAIDS Townhall to push for safe abortion policies and improved SRHR access. These efforts have strengthened youth representation in national health priorities.
“READY+ is not just a program; it’s a promise. A promise that young people will be READY to take control of their health, challenge stigma, and shape their future.” – Lusungu Harawa, READY+ Focal Point for Malawi.
Mozambique saw the integration of the READY+ model into the government’s THRIVE framework, expanding peer-led support services and strengthening national youth engagement in HIV response strategies. In Angola, Associação Comunitária para Apoio e Defesa da Juventude (ACADEJ) trained 68 Community Adolescent Treatment Supporters (CATS). READY+ helps adolescents and young people living with HIV adhere to treatment, conducts capacity-building sessions for young leaders, and strengthens peer support networks. CATS is one pioneering program developed by READY+ that supports treatment adherence and peer-led support networks.
“Collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and continuous learning are the cornerstones of READY+. By working together, we ensure that young people remain at the heart of HIV response strategies, now and in the future.” – Sheryss Saide, READY Focal Point for Mozambique.
In Zimbabwe, READY+ youth leaders played a pivotal role in domesticating the national guideline on young people’s ethical and meaningful engagement in HIV responses, now under review by the Prime Minister’s Office. Last year alone, the READY+ team trained 745 youth leaders, equipping them with the skills to advocate for SRHR and influence national strategies. Y+ Global’s Executive Director, Maximina Jokonya, emphasised the importance of community-led sustainability.
Tanzania witnessed a significant breakthrough as the Network of Young People Living with HIV (NYP+) successfully championed the adoption of a national guideline on youth engagement in HIV responses, reinforcing youth leadership in health governance. Meanwhile, in Zambia, community dialogues spearheaded by the Zambia Network for Young People Living with and Affected by HIV (ZNYP+) helped reduce stigma and improve access to youth-friendly services. Additionally, 83 young advocates were trained to influence HIV prevention policies and service delivery.
[READY+ Focal Points and country partners participate in group discussions and sessions at the meeting.]
The meeting emphasised the importance of sustaining READY+ beyond its full implementation cycle. Discussions centred on sustainability interventions, garnering national interest, and implementing READY to Care Scorecards, a key monitoring tool to assess service quality and advocacy effectiveness, and ensuring long-term impact.
Y+ Global also welcomed Modester Mangilani as the new Senior Programmes Officer for READY+, who will provide technical assistance and strategic direction for the program’s next phase.
“I am incredibly excited to join READY+ at such a pivotal moment. “This is more than just a program; it’s a movement that ensures young people are at the forefront of shaping policies and solutions that impact their lives. We must not lose momentum; we must be READY!” – Modester Mangilani, Senior Programmes Officer for READY+ at Y+ Global.
As READY+ moves into its final phase, Y+ Global and its partners remain committed to fostering regional collaboration, scaling up youth-led advocacy, and ensuring that young people most affected by HIV continue to access essential services and support. The recent meeting reaffirmed a collective mission: to amplify youth voices and create a more READY, empowered, and inclusive future.
About READY
READY+ is a portfolio of programmes designed to build Resilient and Empowered Adolescents and Young People (READY). The program empowers young people living with HIV by improving access to healthcare, strengthening peer support networks, and influencing policy changes at local, national, and global levels. Learn more about READY+ at https://readymovement.org/