Conference signs on Princes Bridge in Melbourne, Australia.

Credit: International AIDS Society/Steve Forrest

This year, the 20th International AIDS Conference, AIDS 2014, was held in Melbourne, Australia, from July 20 to 25. More than 14,000 delegates, journalists and renowned AIDS researchers from nearly 200 countries gathered to present their scientific findings, discuss challenges and share successes in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Every 2 years, the conference provides the AIDS community – advocates, activists, public health practitioners and researchers – the opportunity to come together in their commitment to ending the pandemic. The week was filled with stimulating presentations, panel discussions, poster exhibitions and satellite sessions that will impact the future of HIV and AIDS.

Below, we highlight the many ways USAID participated in AIDS 2014.

The memorial service for the victims of the Malaysian plane crash, during the opening session.

Credit: International AIDS Society/Steve Forrest

Administrator Shah’s Statement on MH17 Crash

Administrator Shah expresses the Agency’s deepest condolences for the tragic crash of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 and the deaths of our friends and colleagues in the global health community who were en route to AIDS 2014.

• Read Administrator Shah’s statement

Michael Kirby presenting The Elizabeth Taylor Human Rights Award to Dr. Paul Semugoma of Uganda.

Credit: International AIDS Society/Steve Forrest

USAID Announces +$500 Million in New Awards

On Monday, July 21, USAID announced over $500 million in three new awards to reach an AIDS-free generation. These three awards will support the efforts of 19 partners to expand evidence-based HIV interventions, reach and serve populations at greatest risk and strengthen country-led partnerships. Our LINKAGES award is the first USAID award to solely target key populations in the epidemic.

• Read the announcement from USAID

David Stanton, USAID Director of the Office of HIV/AIDS discusses the launch of two new programs at the AIDS 2014 conference.

Credit: FHI 360

On-the-ground Conference Interviews

Throughout the conference, FHI360 provided live coverage of AIDS 2014, including these video interviews with conference attendees David Stanton, Director of the Office of HIV/AIDS and Cameron Wolf, Senior HIV Advisor for Key Populations. Check out these interviews to learn more about USAID’s response to HIV and AIDS and what sets our three new awards apart!

• Watch the video interviews

Joy Lynn Alegarbes, Director of Global Operations for The Condom Project.

Credit: International AIDS Society/James Braund

USAID at AIDS 2014

Check out our AIDS 2014 landing page, which serves as the hub of all information about USAID’s involvement at AIDS 2014. The website includes a calendar of events illustrating our staff and partners’ conference participation, updates from the conference and links to conference-related social media and resources.

• View the AIDS 2014 landing page

Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund speaks during Community Dialogue Space at the Global Village at AIDS 2014.

Credit: International AIDS Society/James Braund

Words from Our Partners On Policy and Ethics

In this Science Speaks blogpost, Ron MacInnis, Deputy Director for HIV of the Health Policy Project, discusses discriminatory policies and the role of public health leaders in speaking up against them. In this piece, MacInnis collaborates with Anita Datar, Senior Policy Advisor at The Futures Group, to shine light on the ethics of geomapping HIV hotspots.

• Read the Science Speaks blogpost

AIDS 2014 conference participant Thoko Njoloma presenting the condom dresses she created.

Credit: International AIDS Society/James Braund

PEPFAR Launches New Dashboards

Curious about the impact of PEPFAR programs and how they are funded? Explore the new PEPFAR Dashboards, which enable viewers to access planned budgets, program results and expenditure analysis data in an accessible and easy-to-use format.

• Explore the PEPFAR Dashboards

Credit: FHI 360

Ambassador Birx Interviewed at AIDS 2014

U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Birx speaks about the PEPFAR roadmaps for the U.S. HIV and AIDS response. Watch the interview and learn about PEPFAR’s approach to reaching an AIDS-free generation.

• Watch the video interview

Jack Whitescarver from the U.S. Office of AIDS Research speaks at the opening plenary of the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne.

Credit: International AIDS Society/Steve Forrest

Devex Article about LINKAGES

USAID was featured in Devex’s column “And the Winner Is” for its recent announcement of over $500 million in new awards for HIV and AIDS work. The article discussed the core components and implementing partners of each new award and highlighted our LINKAGES award, the first USAID-funded award to solely target key populations and reduce HIV transmission.

• Read the Devex column

Former U.S. President, Bill Clinton waves to conference attendees before his speech.

Credit: International AIDS Society/Elisabetta Fino

Website Updates to OHA’s Technical Area Pages

Looking for the most up-to-date information about our work in HIV and AIDS? Some of our HIV and AIDS webpages have been updated, such as the Implementation Science and Injection Safety technical area pages. Stay tuned for further updates on many of our webpages, including Gender, Condoms, Counseling and Testing and Health Systems Strengthening.

• View the pages on implementation science and injection safety
• Check out the technical areas page for future updates