BACKGROUND OF ICASA

The International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) is a major and only bilingual international AIDS conference which takes place in Africa. It is a biennial conference which alternates between Anglophone and Francophone African countries. The International Conference on HIV and STIs in Africa is the largest and incredible platform to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and Malaria, and the debilitating effects which these diseases have on our communities, where there is no stigma and discrimination against PLHIV and their families, and where social justice and equity to accessing treatment prevails. So far ICASA has been hosted in (16) sixteen countries with more than 100,000 direct participants. The 23^rd edition was held in Accra, Ghana in 2025, despite financial constraints attracted 3,169 delegates with 75 oral presentations and 522 poster exhibitions from over 1,864 submissions. In addition, 527 scholarships supported in-person participation, while 953 individuals received virtual access, demonstrating ICASA’s continued commitment to broad participation and knowledge sharing through the hybrid conference approach. ICASA 2027 is expected to convene more than 10,000 delegates from nearly 150 countries, including more than 200 journalists around the globe. The 24^th edition of ICASA will be held in Benin Republic from 5^th to 9th December 2027. The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), the organiser of ICASA, with more than 5,000 memberships in 56 countries, is organising ICASA 2027 in collaboration with international and local partners.

The SAA is calling all stakeholders in the field of health to propose thematic followed by five (5) objectives which will reflect the trend of our health system in Africa, specifically on HIV, TB, hepatitis, Malaria and emerging infections.

1. CRITERIA FOR DEVELOPING THE THEME & OBJECTIVES

• The previous ICASA 2025 theme and objectives will serve as a reference in developing the new theme and objectives for ICASA 2027.
• Also, the current trends in global health, the SDGs, the 95-95-95 goal, the AU 2063 Agenda and the end of AIDS by 2030 should be factored in developing the theme and objectives of ICASA 2025
• The theme and objectives must reflect Scientific, Leadership and Community component of the new trend of health systems strengthening in Africa towards the end of HIV/AIDS.
• The proposed theme should not be more than 20 words
• The objectives should not be more than 5 points

NB: See below the previous conference Themes

The Objectives of ICASA 2025:

1. Catalysing Africa’s progress towards triple elimination and sustainable resilient health systems through innovation and digital technologies.
2. Promote cooperation among governments, communities, the private sector, and international organizations to enhance health security and improve pandemic preparedness and response.
3. Strengthen capacity and facilitate knowledge exchange for healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers.
4. Empower communities and promote human rights and gender equality in the context of HIV/AIDS and emerging and reemerging diseases.
5. Mobilize domestic resources and political commitment to sustain Africa’s progress towards achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets and global health security goals.

NB: for the past ICASA objectives, kindly refer to the SAA website: https://www.saafrica.org/pages/ ( https://icasa2025.saafrica.org/ )

TIMELINE FOR THE PROPOSED THEME & OBJECTIVES

The PROPOSED theme and objectives should be sent to the link below, before 25th September 2026 Link: https://forms.gle/QUjVJnGiRzrro4gz8 The proposed themes and objectives will be finalized at the upcoming 1st International Steering Committee (ISC) meeting. Date: 23- 24 November 2026 in Cotonou, Benin

ICASA Permanent Secretariat
Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA)
ICASA Organizer Accra- Ghana
Office Direct: (+233)(0)302913739
Email: icasatheme@saafrica.org
website: https://www.saafrica.org/pages/