ICAD IS CLOSING ITS DOORS RAISING CONCERNS OVER THE SUSTAINABILITY OF CIVIL SOCIETY NETWORKS AND COALITIONS FIGHTING HIV AND ADJACENT HEALTH ISSUES

ICAD IS CLOSING ITS DOORS RAISING CONCERNS OVER THE SUSTAINABILITY OF CIVIL SOCIETY NETWORKS AND COALITIONS FIGHTING HIV AND ADJACENT HEALTH ISSUES After 30 years of bringing together a diverse and dynamic membership and allied partners to address HIV- related issues in Canada and globally, ICAD is preparing to close its doors in March 2022. [...] In ICAD’s case, these pressures include but are not limited to the ongoing shifting and narrowing of funding priorities and eligibility criteria coupled with the tightening of what funders will fund, and what they won’t. [...] The success of any pandemic response, including Covid-19, depends on strong community and civil society organizations and networks - a community and civil society that may be invited to the table, but increasingly can no longer afford to be there. [...] On one hand we’re hearing how the history of the HIV movement can inform and guide the world in its pandemic preparedness and response, however on the other hand, we are essentially watching the starving of civil society in many sectors, including HIV. [...] If you are as concerned as we are about the shrinking space for civil society, for the shrivelling of the HIV response at home and globally … then we need to talk openly about it with our partners and join forces – we are only stronger together.