My job was to lead strategic communications development and implementation for the UNAIDS fast-response Technical Support Mechanism (TSM) programme in 55 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia. The TSM focuses on reaching the most underserved populations and those at higher risk of HIV-infection, thus aiming to reduce inequities in access to healthcare, while also strengthening the sustainability of effective programmes. Through strategic learning and communications we help to ensure all gathered information and lessons learnt feed back into the projects to drive improvements and capacity building activities. Strategic learning also helps us navigate complex social and political environments, ensuring organisations trying to affect change have access to methods and information needed to do so.