A pivotal high-profile meeting took place in Bangkok to improve HIV services through community oversight in 2 global regions

On September 18-19, Bangkok hosted a determining  event — the Joint Regional Dialogue on Community-Led Monitoring — focused on enhancing collaboration between Eastern Europe and Central Asia (hereinafter EECA) and Asia Pacific (hereinafter AP) regions. This high-profile meeting, titled “Charting the Future Together” brought together almost 40 guests of 17 countries: representatives of key stakeholders from government bodies, community-led organizations, technical partners, and funding institutions. The event underscored the importance of cross-regional partnerships in addressing critical health challenges, particularly HIV, through the lens of community-led responses. The participating countries were Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Ukraine. 

Who and why did initiate this meeting?  

The dialogue was co-organized by our team and the Seven Alliance, a regional consortium representing key populations from the Asia-Pacific. With support from UNAIDS and funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) together with the Global Fund, the event reflected the shared commitment to improving health outcomes through Community-Led Monitoring (hereinafter – CLM). The collaboration of these entities set a strong foundation for future regional initiatives, leveraging community-driven approaches to foster greater accountability in health systems.

Eamonn Murphy, Regional Director of UNAIDS Asia Pacific and EECA, highlighted that “CLM enables people to demand high-quality services and the fulfilment of their human rights, while contributing to a country’s disease programmes and strengthening the health system. Countries have to do more to center and domestically fund the work of communities. This is not just for HIV. We are looking at strengthening public health responses.”

What did we present from the HAC site?  

Sergii Dmytriiev, Executive Director of HAC, presented key insights on CLM’s impact in the EECA region, highlighting how community-led efforts have transformed health systems and empowered vulnerable groups to drive systemic change​. Presentation demonstrated some achievements of our team efforts  in integrating CLM into national frameworks across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine, with notable success in improving ART access and reducing stigma​ among healthcare specialists.

Besides HAC projects implementing partners presented how government involvement has been key to integrating CLM into national HIV strategies​ in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Pulod Dzhamolov, Director of ‘SPIN Plus’ from Tajikistan, and Nurali Amanzholov, President of the ‘Central Asian Association of PLWH’ from Kazakhstan, shared success stories, where government bodies have embraced CLM as a tool for improving service delivery and accountability​.

“We’ve faced challenges — resource constraints and lack of recognition — but we’ve pushed forward. Our advocacy efforts have led to tangible policy changes, like reducing stigma in healthcare and ensuring access to harm reduction services. And this is only the beginning. By building resilient community networks and continuously strengthening CLM, we can ensure that our voices are not only heard but acted upon”, states Valentina Mankieva, who is a highly active figure in the CLM field, particularly focused on advocating for PLHIV and PWID in Kazakhstan. Her story was introduced at the event as an illustration of access and empowerment of key communities to influence on significant processes. Starting her journey as an outreach worker and later becoming a key advocate, she has made great contributions to the development and implementation of CLM mechanisms.

Valentina’ accomplishments include the successful advocacy for the inclusion of web outreach services in the Global Fund proposal, developing monitoring systems to track preventive service access for key populations, and leading needs assessments that have shaped pilot programs. Moreover Mankieva’s CLM efforts have helped to reduce stigma, improve service delivery, and ensure that marginalized voices, including those from underserved communities, are prioritized in the national HIV response.

CLM in Humanitarian Crises: which country was in the sights? 

A dedicated session on Ukraine highlighted the unique challenges posed by the ongoing war. Ukraine has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in Eastern Europe, and the war has exacerbated the healthcare crisis. A special session led by Yevheniia Kononchuk, our Program Lead, provided a deep dive into the customization of CLM tools in response to the war and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. This speech illuminated the critical role CLM has played in maintaining service continuity for PLHIV amid widespread displacement and infrastructure devastation​. The ability to adapt monitoring tools to real-time needs in a crisis environment was a key takeaway, with HAC’s work in Ukraine serving as a model for other regions experiencing conflict​.

Also Sergiy Mironyuk, from Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, and Yevheniia Kononchuk outlined the significant impact of CLM in ensuring HIV services are maintained despite immense barriers. Both emphasized the adaptability of CLM in crisis mode — using digital tools, mobile units, and cross-border service coordination to meet the needs of displaced populations​.

“This session underscored that CLM is not only a monitoring tool, but a lifeline for PLHIV during emergencies. The collection of real-time data allowed communities to raise the alarm over stockouts and service interruptions, mobilizing rapid responses that kept people in care”, stressed Sergiy Mironyuk. HAC’s leadership in driving these innovations during the war demonstrates the transformative power of CLM in humanitarian settings, serving as a blueprint for future crisis response strategies​.

How can the experience of EECA and AP regions be combined to the benefit of everyone?

The dialogue emphasized the unique challenges facing both the EECA and AP regions, particularly in how political instability, migration, and funding constraints affect healthcare services. Cross-regional collaboration was highlighted as a vital strategy to address these issues. Speakers from the two regions shared best practices, including the use of digital tools for monitoring and the integration of community-generated data into national HIV strategies​. Both the Seven Alliance and our team representatives emphasized the potential of South-to-South learning to strengthen CLM practices, which will serve as the foundation for ongoing cooperation between these regions.

What is the result?

The meeting concluded with group work, where participants laid out a roadmap for future cross-regional cooperation and the continued integration of CLM into health systems, as well as concrete commitments for 2025. The next steps involve expanding capacity-building efforts, developing unified CLM tools, and ensuring that community voices remain at the forefront of decision-making processes. This collaborative event sets a powerful precedent for the future of community-led monitoring, with the EECA and AP regions leading the charge toward more accountable, responsive, and equitable health systems.

The HAC extends its deep gratitude to UNAIDS and the CDC, whose technical and financial support made this event possible. The dialogue’s success was also due to the active participation of government partners from the EECA region, whose engagement in discussions demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing CLM across national health frameworks.