On 20–21 November 2025, Tirana (Albania) hosted the sub-regional workshop “Science, Policy and Communities: Towards a Sustainable HIV Response in the Balkans”, focused on sustainable financing and strengthening HIV services in the Western Balkans. The event brought together government officials, members of parliament, international partners, experts, and community leaders.
The workshop was officially opened by Andriy Klepikov, Executive Director of Alliance for Public Health (Ukraine). In his remarks, he highlighted the key themes of IAS 2025 and their relevance for the EECA and Balkan region, emphasizing the shift toward sustainable, integrated HIV responses.
The iSoS team presented regional insights and key achievements:
- Maria Malakhova, Program Manager for Innovation and Digital Projects at Alliance for Public Health, outlined the role of partnerships, municipal financing, social contracting, and digital tools in strengthening sustainability.
- Sergii Filippovych, Director of the #iSoS, presented an analysis of the transition from donor-dependent systems to sustainable domestic financing, highlighting challenges in access to PrEP, harm reduction services, and gaps in budget allocations across Southeast Europe.
Key workshop insights included:
— rising HIV incidence in the region,
— the need for predictable national financing,
— growing municipal engagement through Fast-Track Cities,
— and the role of digital innovations such as telemedicine, e-PrEP, monitoring dashboards, and community-led platforms.
Participants also reflected on the successful 2021 PrEP pilot in North Macedonia, launched with iSoS support and now adopted as a national programme.
The second day was dedicated to group work sessions focused on developing actionable recommendations for sustainable HIV financing and strengthening harm reduction, community engagement, and integrated service delivery.The workshop was held within the iSoS Regional Partnership, supporting sustainable financing and innovation across the region.