[Series] Enhancing HIV prevention through systematic community engagement, learning, and response

Successful uptake of existing and new HIV prevention interventions demands meaningful, systematic, and participatory engagement integrated across the conception, design, implementation, and assessment phases of programming. Despite proven impact of community engagement, it remains chronically underfunded and is often not conducted consistently or as part of harmonised national policy and practice, causing gaps that are likely to worsen in the current funding environment. Systematic models of community engagement—from peer-led outreaches to community-led monitoring and advisory boards—strengthen trust, responsiveness, and accountability.