Donor funding is increasingly strained, and the global health landscape is rapidly evolving, leading youth leaders to step into sharper focus as advocates for equitable, impactful programming. This momentum was palpable at the COMPASS consultation hosted by My Age Zimbabwe on July 9th, 2025, where adolescents and youth participants convened to engage in strategic dialogue on the Global Fund reprioritization process.
The event, organized under the COMPASS project, served as a briefing and brainstorming platform, linking roundtable findings from Global Fund sub-recipients with the pressing need to refine youth constituency priorities ahead of the next Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) meeting.
A structured workshop led to a critical examination of the GC7 guidance. Participants reviewed the HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria funding components, gaining clarity on which programs faced deferment and how their voices could shape forthcoming decisions. One urgent concern was the removal of training-related programs, seen as crucial for capacity-building and grassroots empowerment.
Participants warned that their exclusion could erode community resilience. With the Global Fund experiencing major cuts, leading to over $1 million in funding cuts for HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria in Zimbabwe, youth leaders stressed the need for funding-driven reprioritization that doesn’t sacrifice long-term social value in the pursuit of short-term survival, highlighting prevention, education, and psychosocial support as integral.
Programmatic adjustments were flagged as necessary but risky, potentially disconnecting programs from youth realities. However, the rise of digital and virtual strategies sparked interest as a cost-saving measure and a method for expanding reach. Concerns around inclusivity and the digital divide remained salient, especially for adolescents in marginalized contexts.
A unifying thread was the emphasis on intersectionality in advocacy, championing approaches that respond to the complex interplay of gender, age, disability, and socio-economic status. From this dynamic exchange, a series of actionable outcomes and recommendations were articulated, including defending deferred interventions with evidence, revisiting language around budget categories, and deepening collaboration to ensure sustained youth influence in grant revision processes. Participants agreed that virtual initiatives and intersectional lenses must be at the heart of future efforts.
By the end of the session, the Youth Constituency had sharpened its priorities and generated a compelling advocacy agenda to champion at the next CCM meeting. The COMPASS project continues to ensure that youth perspectives redefine the pathways to health equity and justice.
