The International AIDS Society (IAS) Mentorship Programme (IASMP) 2021

Application Deadline: 26 February 2021

IAS – the International AIDS Society – strives to cultivate the next generation of HIV professionals and support their professional development by creating opportunities to interact with well-established professionals in the field. The IAS Mentorship Programme (IASMP) aims to effectively engage young people and helping develop the next generation of policymakers and clinicians, peer navigators and patients, researchers and community advocates.

The purpose of the IASMP, an initiative of the IAS Educational Fund, is to enhance the exchange of knowledge and build relationships, which foster personal and professional development between younger IAS Members and established members to empower the next generation of HIV professionals and create the leaders of the future in the HIV response. It will provide a forum for experienced and younger members to develop an ongoing relationship by meeting regularly and discussing matters relating to the HIV field within an organized and supportive framework.

The IAS Mentorship Programme is free of charge, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 programme will be fully virtual. The programme will take place from April to September 2021 (six months of total duration).

The IAS Mentorship Programme aims to:

1. Preserve and transfer accumulated knowledge within the HIV community
2. Provide younger members with skills needed to achieve their potential and contribute to their career development
3. Connect younger members in the HIV field with highly experienced members (mentors) as a platform for professional exchange and mutual learning
4. Help younger members to create their professional network within the IAS membership and the HIV community
5. Support life-long learning and knowledge sharing.

Requirements

The programme participants, mentors and mentees, should preferably be IAS Members, but this is not an absolute requirement. At least five spaces both for mentors and mentees will be allocated to IAS Members.

MENTEES

Mentees should meet the following requirements:

• Be a student, recent graduate or young professional with less than three years of working experience in the HIV field
• Be between 18 and 35 years old throughout the programme duration
• Demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the English language
• Have online access with good internet connection and bandwidth
• Time to commit to approximately 15 hours over the course of six months (two hours and 30 minutes on average per month).

MENTORS

Mentors should meet the following requirements:

• Extensive and relevant experience in the HIV field
• Excellent communication skills, particularly listening
• Desire to contribute to the future of the HIV profession
• Demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the English language
• Have online access with good internet connection and bandwidth
• Time to commit to approximately nine hours over the course of six months (90 minutes on average per month).

For 2021, 10 mentors and 10 mentees (two per region: Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States and Canada; a minimum five spots both for mentors and mentees will be allocated to IAS Members) will be selected for the IAS Mentorship Programme.

Benefits

There are many mutual benefits of participating in a mentoring programme for the mentor and mentee, including but not limited to:

MENTEES

• Develop new skills and training to contribute to their career development
• Build a professional network and connect already at an early stage of their career with professionals in the HIV field
• Create a long-lasting relationship with the mentor
• Get career advice to manage needs and expectations
• Receive support and guidance to achieve career goals
• Registration to IAS 2021, including a two-year IAS membership.

MENTORS

• Contribute to the future of development of the HIV field and HIV professionals
• Transfer skills and knowledge
• Create a long-lasting relationship
• Expand professional networks
• Recognition of skills, knowledge and commitment to the profession
• Provide mentors with increased professional identity and visibility
• Registration to IAS 2021, including a two-year IAS membership.

Key dates

5 February 2021: Call for applications for mentors and mentees

26 February 2021: Mentors and mentees application deadline

Mid-March 2021: Selection and notifications of programme participants

Late March 2021: Training for mentors and mentees

1 April 2021: Start of the IAS Mentorship Programme

April-May 2021: Kick-off meeting, first one-on-one meetings between mentors and mentees

June 2021: Progress review workshop

18-21 July 2021: Participation in the virtual 11th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2021)

September 2021: Closing programme workshop

From April to September 2021, mentees will be participating in several Virtual Learning Events and Mentoring Circles of their choice.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the IAS Mentorship Programme (IASMP) 2021