SSDP International's Participation at GFAN Africa 2025 Strategy Meeting
The GFAN Africa 2025 Strategy Meeting, held in Johannesburg, was a powerful opportunity for health advocates to shape the future of global health financing, civil society engagement, and policy reform. As a representative of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) International, I was joined by my colleagues Kamogelo Moeleane and Saidy Brown, to bring youth-led perspectives into these critical conversations. For us, this was a chance to push forward the importance of harm reduction strategies, youth representation in health policy, and the urgent need to rethink drug policies that impact marginalized communities
Key Themes
● Advocacy
● Health financing
● Civil society engagement
● Human rights
● Drug policy reform
Throughout the two days, we actively contributed our insights into how youth-led organisations can engage with global health discussions, advocating for inclusive approaches to funding, policy reform, and health rights. It became clear how crucial it is to ensure that youth are not only the recipients of health policies but also central agents in shaping them.
Key Discussions & Outcomes
Global and Regional Updates: The first day was an eye-opening dive into the global health landscape, where we explored how civil society plays a significant role in resource mobilisation and accountability. We were reminded of the immense power grassroots movements hold in shaping national policies, with several examples illustrating how youth-led campaigns have influenced funding for HIV responses. I found it empowering to see our work, as SSDP, reflected in these discussions, particularly when we talked about integrating harm reduction into HIV strategies.
We shared the successes of community-driven programmes in Kenya and South Africa, where harm reduction strategies were critical in reducing infection rates. Our message was clear—harm reduction must be an integral part of health policies, and yet, we noted the lack of dedicated funding streams for youth-specific programmes in Global Fund proposals. This is where SSDP’s voice was vital, calling for more inclusivity in global health frameworks to address these gaps.
The impact of global economic policies on health was another stark reality discussed. Debt servicing is increasingly limiting health budgets in many African countries, which means access to care, especially for marginalised groups, is at risk. We brought attention to the restrictive drug policies in Uganda and how they could severely hinder HIV prevention efforts, especially for LGBTQ+ communities. This reinforced the need for intersectional policies that prioritise the health and rights of all individuals.
Campaign Tactics & Partnerships: On Day 2, we turned our attention to the practicalities of advocacy, particularly in preparation for the Global Fund’s 8th Replenishment Campaign. SSDP took an active role in defining key advocacy milestones, and for me, it was inspiring to help map out critical action points for youth mobilisation. We discussed using digital platforms—TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp—as powerful tools to engage young people in these campaigns, creating a space for them to not only be aware of the issues but to actively engage and advocate for policy changes.
What stood out for me was how the discussion around legislative advocacy was framed. We identified countries like South Africa, Rwanda, and Kenya as key nations where youth can make a real impact. By engaging youth in national policymaking processes, we can ensure that their needs and voices are heard, particularly when it comes to health financing and drug policy reform. It felt like a pivotal moment in the room when we framed strategies that would give youth a seat at the table.
Outcomes & Contributions
For me personally, the most rewarding part of the meeting was seeing the impact of SSDP’s contributions to the discussions. We helped ensure that youth-led organisations weren’t just seen as participants but as central actors in shaping global health policy. Our discussions on health financing and harm reduction not only highlighted the barriers youth advocates face but also proposed solutions to bridge those gaps.
One of the key outcomes was our contribution to the development of narrative tools for effective advocacy, with personal stories becoming a powerful vehicle for change. We explored how to use testimonies from affected communities to humanise policy discussions, ensuring that our campaigns connect on a deeper level with both policymakers and the public. Digital platforms will play a huge role in this, and SSDP’s insights into how youth can mobilise online were embraced by many.
Conclusion
As the meeting came to a close, I felt a deep sense of purpose. The GFAN Africa 2025 Strategy Meeting wasn’t just an event—it was a platform for us, as young advocates, to contribute to the shaping of global health policies that affect our communities. It reaffirmed that youth-led advocacy is crucial in advancing health equity and drug policy reform. For SSDP, our presence in this space was not only a contribution to the conversation but a commitment to ensuring that youth voices, especially those advocating for harm reduction, remain at the forefront of global health policy discussions.
