Deadline: February 26, 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.

ELIGIBILITY

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.

OFFICIAL LINK: https://www.iasociety.org/IAS-Educational-Fund/IAS-Mentorship-Programme