Differentiated service delivery (DSD) is a person-centered approach that simplifies and adapts HIV services across the cascade in ways that both serve the needs of people living with and vulnerable to HIV and optimize available resources in health systems. Since DSD relies on people-centered practices, community engagement (CE) is central to its success as the importance of meaningful engagement of recipients of care (RoC) since inception, are highlighted in many program requirements. However, as of today, efforts towards meaningful community engagement (CE) are still suboptimal.

Sustaining robust community responses within health systems is therefore imperative for achieving enduring progress. One exemplary model of successful community engagement (CE) is demonstrated by the Community Advocacy Network (CAN) of the ICAP CQUIN Project on Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD). The CAN works to ensure that the voices of people living with HIV and ROC are central to the CQUIN Learning network and to DSD more broadly. Operating across 22 countries in the African continent in 2022 and 2023, CAN’s innovative application of community-led monitoring (CLM) to CE resulted in the development of an innovative 19- indicator tracking tool for decision-making and programming related to at the country level.

Preliminary findings and related follow-up actions serve as a crucial baseline for enhancing CE levels, identifying gaps, and establishing new relations