The International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) is one of the major international AIDS conferences that take place in Africa. It was founded in 1986 by a group of African scientists who saw the need for a forum for discussing ways to manage and reverse the impact of HIV and AIDS and STIs in Africa.

The conference provides a forum for exchange of scientific knowledge, experiences and best practices in Africa and around the globe in all dimensions of HIV/AIDS and STIs. Most importantly, ICASA serves as a platform for sharing of progress towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in the continent, which is the milestone of MDG.

The first ICASA was held in 1986 in Brussels, Belgium, with the theme “AIDS in Africa”. Since then fifteen similar conferences, which at higher level deliberated on various HIV and AIDS issues, have taken place in different countries.

Its current biennial hosting alternates between the Anglophone and Francophone African countries. Ethiopia assumed the responsibility to host the 16thICASA. The 15th ICASA took place in Dakar, Senegal under the theme of “Africa’s Response: Face the Facts” in 2008.

The conferences all draw the attention of many in the world and are predominantly attended by highlevel policy makers, scientific communities, people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV), community and opinion leaders, UN agencies, members of the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), NGOs, CSOs, donors and private sector.

Traditionally, both Society of AIDS in Africa (SAA) and the local host country coordinate the overall financial and organizational responsibility of all aspects of the conference. In the case of ICASA 2011, the lead government agency is the Ethiopian Federal HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office in collaboration with local, government and international organizations.

ICASA Host Countries Year from 1986 - 2008 with their Major Theme