Background

The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) was established in 1989 during the 5th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) in Kinshasa, facilitated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since its inception, SAA has served as the custodian of ICASA, a premier platform dedicated to advancing the fight against HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), tuberculosis (TB), and other emerging viral infections in Africa.

SAA is committed to promoting HIV/AIDS research, advocacy, and policy development across the continent. Our vision is an Africa free of HIV, TB, and Malaria, where there is no stigma or discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV) and their families, and where social justice and equity prevail in accessing prevention, treatment, care, and support.

ICASA is the largest HIV/AIDS conference in Africa, attracting between 8,000 to 15,000 delegates, including researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, activists, and community leaders from across the globe.

To celebrate its 35^th anniversary this year 2025, the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) is calling all stakeholders in the field of health to join the ICASA Storytellling Competition for People Living with HIV.

About the Competition

Framework outlining the criteria and logistics for organizing the storytelling video competition for People living with HIV (PLHIV) in Africa.

1. Competition Overview

• Purpose:
  To empower people living with HIV (PLHIV) to share their personal journeys, raise awareness, and inspire change by using the medium of video storytelling.
• Target Participants:
  People living with HIV (PLHIV) in Africa who fall into one of the two age categories:
  • Category A: 18–35 years
  • Category B: 36 years and above
• Submission Format:
  Video storytelling entries that are 4 minutes long.
• Language Requirement:
  Videos must be captioned in both French and English to ensure accessibility and broad regional engagement.
• Review Process:
  An initial screening will shortlist the top 10 videos. These finalists will then be evaluated by a panel of jurors assembled in Ghana, with jurors selected from across Africa.

2. Eligibility Criteria

• Participant Requirements:
  • Must be an African from the continent or the diaspora.
  • Must self-identify as a person living with HIV (submission forms may include a declaration section while ensuring privacy and confidentiality).
  • Must belong to one of the defined age groups: 18–35 or 36+ years.
• Content Guidelines:
  • The video should be a personal story that is authentic, respectful, and reflective of the participant’s lived experience.
  • Content must adhere to ethical storytelling standards and avoid stigmatizing language or imagery.
  • Participants must obtain and document consent if other individuals (family members, friends, etc.) are featured.
• Technical Specifications:
  • Duration: 4 minutes.
  • Video Format: Common formats (e.g., MP4, MOV) with high-resolution quality recommended.

3. Submission Process & Timeline

• Announcement & Launch: 28^th – 29^th March 2025
  • Official launch date with full details provided on the competition website and social media channels.
  • Clear guidelines, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and contact details for support would also be provided.
• Submission Portal:
  • Participants will upload their videos via a dedicated online link/platform.
  • Submission form to include personal details (name, age, country, category), a brief synopsis of the video, and confirmation of consent regarding content usage.
  • Upload your video now
• Deadlines:
  • Submission Window: 29^th March 2025 to 31^st July 2025
  • Shortlisting Period: Screening to shortlist the top 10 videos will take place from August to October 2025.
• Notifications:
  • All participants receive acknowledgment of their submission.
  • Finalists will be notified via email and provided with further instructions regarding the review process.

4. Selection and Review Process

• Stage 1: Screening
  • A preliminary review committee will assess all submissions based on the following criteria:
    • Storytelling & Authenticity: How compelling, honest, and impactful is the narrative?
    • Creativity & Originality: Use of creative storytelling techniques and originality in presentation.
    • Technical Quality: Adherence to video length, clarity of audio/visual, and quality of bilingual captions.
    • Relevance & Impact: The story’s potential to educate, inspire, and reduce HIV-related stigma.

 

• Stage 2: Finalist Review Evaluation in Ghana
  • • Members of the selection committee will be carefully chosen from different regions of Africa. Selection criteria may include expertise in HIV advocacy, storytelling, media production, public health, and community leadership.
    • The top two selections from each category will be showcased at ICASA 2025 in Accra, Ghana. Delegates at the conference will then vote to select the best entry from each category.
    • The session will include in-person discussions, scoring based on detailed rubrics, and, ultimately, the selection of the best story.
• Final Scoring Rubric:
  • Narrative Impact (40%): Emotional resonance, clarity, and authenticity.
  • Production Quality (25%): Visual and audio clarity, adherence to technical requirements.
  • Bilingual Captioning (15%): Accuracy and ease of reading in both French and English.
  • Overall Message and Social Impact (20%): Relevance to HIV issues and potential for community impact.

5. Logistics & Operational Details
6. For Participants

• Guidelines & Support:
  • Detailed submission guidelines, video production tips, and captioning instructions will be available.
  • A dedicated helpline/email for technical or content-related queries.
• Data Privacy:
  • Assurance that personal information and video content will be managed in compliance with data protection and confidentiality standards.

1. For Jurors

• Selection Process:
  • Invitations will be extended to selected experts and advocates across Africa.
  • A clear mandate and judging criteria will be shared prior to the convening.

1. Venue & Event Management in Ghana

• Event Venue:
  • Final scoring session to be held at ICASA conference.
• Event Schedule:
  • • Presentation of finalist videos
    • Discussion and scoring session
    • Final scoring and announcement of the winner
    • Award ceremony and closing

6. Terms and Conditions

• Intellectual Property:
  • Participants grant the organizers a non-exclusive license to use the videos for promotional and educational purposes.
• Consent and Releases:
  • Participants must ensure that any featured individuals have provided consent.
  • Clear disclaimers about the use and distribution of submitted content.
• Disqualification Criteria:
  • Entries that do not meet technical specifications (e.g., video length, captioning requirements) or violate content guidelines (e.g., hate speech, misinformation) will be disqualified.
• Award Details:

$3000 for the first winner and $2000 for the second winner for each category.

For more information, contact: 35yearsvideostory@saafrica.org