Accelerating progress towards cure in Africa: Reality & opportunity: HCAAP will present insights and pathways across 3 strategic areas to accelerate progress toward HIV and SCD cures for Africa. First, we will update on progress towards greater African leadership for cure research and development. Second, through development of Target Product Profiles (TPPs), the session will highlight the minimal and optimal characteristics of a gene therapy-based HIV and SCD cures and the required infrastructure to achieve this. Finally, HCAAP will share insights on building local capacity and demand for greater investment in Cure related research aligned to the TPPs.