Programme

Call for Youth Programme Activities


The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), organisers of the ICASA 2025 Ghana, is pleased to announce the Call for Youth Programme Activities for the 23rd International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA 2025), taking place from 3rd to 8th December 2025 in Accra, Ghana.

The 23rd edition of ICASA builds upon past conferences and responds directly to the call for integrated and sustainable solutions to persistent public health challenges. Considering the ongoing health crises, constrained global financing, and the need for increased domestic ownership of Africa’s health response, ICASA 2025 will showcase African-driven solutions and foster resilient, inclusive, and people-centred health systems.

ICASA 2025 will bring together thousands of global stakeholders—scientists, policymakers, activists, donors, civil society representatives, and frontline health workers—to reflect on progress and collectively accelerate action in the fight against HIV/AIDS, STIs, TB, Malaria, SRHR, and emerging health threats, including climate change. Within this diverse and powerful platform, the Youth Programme plays a critical role in amplifying the voices, experiences, and leadership of Africa’s next generation of change-makers.

ICASA 2025 Youth Programme – Overview

The ICASA Youth Programme is designed to engage, empower, and equip young people across Africa with the tools and platforms necessary to lead transformative action in their communities. The programme fosters cross-generational learning, innovative advocacy, and meaningful engagement around Africa’s health and development agenda.

For ICASA 2025, the Youth Programme will centre around three flagship components:

Call for Youth Special Sessions

We invite proposals for four (4) youth-led special sessions to be held within the official ICASA 2025 main conference programme. These sessions should reflect the creativity, energy, and leadership of young people and address key thematic areas including:

  • HIV and STI prevention and care
  • TB, Malaria, and climate change resilience
  • Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
  • Stigmatisation and access to healthcare
  • Youth-led innovations in health system strengthening

ICASA 2025 Youth Caravan – “Voices on the Move”

Following the success of the inaugural ICASA 2017 Youth caravan in Cote D’Ivoire, this year, we are launching the ICASA 2025 Youth Caravan, a dynamic West African road journey from Nigeria to Ghana, Accra, engaging youth leaders, community mobilizers, and creatives along the route. The caravan will spotlight youth-led action, create dialogue spaces, and build momentum for the conference through cultural exchange, advocacy stops and community outreach within each of the countries along the West African corridor.

We encourage proposals for youth activities in each country crossed by the caravan. Each applicant is entitled to submit one activity in their country. Young people whose activities are selected will join the ICASA 2025 Ghana caravan.

This is more than a journey—it is a movement to connect and ignite young leaders across the West African subregion. Selected participants will represent diverse disciplines and communities committed to social justice, health equity, and climate action.

  • Route highlights: Nigeria → Benin → Togo → Ghana
  • Caravan duration: [20th November – 2nd December 2025]

Youth Pre-Conference – (Youth Committee to Define the Theme for the Pre-Conference)

A full-day Youth Pre-Conference will be hosted in Accra ahead of the official ICASA 2025 opening. The pre-conference will offer skills-building workshops, intergenerational dialogues, creative performances, and strategy sessions focused on youth advocacy and leadership in health and development.

This is a unique opportunity to engage directly with youth networks, share lived experiences and co-create action plans to influence the conference agenda and beyond.

Date: 3rd December, 2025

Time: 9:00AM to 1:30PM

Venue: Accra International Conference Centre

Why Participate?

Youth engagement is not only symbolic but strategic. ICASA 2025 recognizes that young people are essential drivers of change in Africa’s health response. Through these activities, we aim to:

  • Empower youth to lead on health, equity, and rights
  • Build capacity and visibility for grassroots youth initiatives
  • Foster regional solidarity and youth-to-youth learning

We encourage youth-led organizations, student networks, artists, activists, researchers, and peer educators to participate actively in this call.

Deadline for Submission: 30th June, 2025

For more information, please contact: youthprogramme@saafrica.org

Submit your proposal now