The Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) is delighted to announce the appointment of Florence Riako Anam as our new co-Executive Director from 1st April 2023. She joins existing co-ED Sbongile Nkosi to form a dynamic duo of strong African women at the helm of the network, advocating globally for the rights of people living with HIV in all our diversity.
This decision follows a rigorous and participatory internal search process, in recognition of the rich pool of skilled and talented staff already present within GNP+. Sbongile notes:
“Florence has demonstrated her vision and skills as a transformational feminist leader in her contributions to the development of the new GNP+ strategy and governance evolution, and in leading our largest multi-country programme collaboratively with partners at national, regional, and global levels to fight stigma and criminalisation and push for access to treatment. I look forward to working shoulder to shoulder with her as we champion our shared mission.”
Florence, based in Kenya, was Programme Manager of the Love Alliance at GNP+ from January 2021, also leading our EPIC (End Paediatric AIDS in Children) initiative. She believes that global advocacy around HIV is facing a critical moment that must be met with bold action. For Florence, such action must be rooted in our communities, while demonstrating strategic understanding of the global architecture that is shaping the future of the HIV response:
“The HIV movement is collectively experiencing extraordinary challenges in remaining relevant in a rapidly changing world. To address these challenges, I strongly believe GNP+ needs to go back to the roots of AIDS activism, to reinvigorate the communities of people living with and affected by HIV and mobilise them to protect hard-won gains. We must motivate our teams and organisations to innovate and create the change necessary to grasp the opportunities that lie ahead of us. At the same time, we must take our rightful place in decision-making spaces through meaningful engagement to determine the priorities for the global response.”
According to GNP+ Board Co-Chairs Rodrigo Olin and Valeriia Rachynska, “Florence’s level of professionalism and expertise in advocacy, strategy and operations, her track record of close collaboration with our partner networks of people living with HIV and key populations, and her existing strong connections with WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, PEPFAR and the Global Fund, make her ideally equipped to help lead the crucial next phase of GNP+’s work to promote the rights and dignity of all people living with HIV.”
