This issues brief presents African sourced solutions to reduce external dependency in the HIV response, including: -Strengthening African ownership of development investments through utilizing more diversified funding sources; -Creating an African Medicines Regulatory Agency for faster roll out of drugs and stronger quality assurance; and -Catalysing local production of medicines in partnership with the BRICS group of countries and other emerging economies. Now is the perfect time to address these issues. Africa’s expanding strength—economically, socially and geopolitically—provides a solid footing to begin to diffuse the dependency crisis and set a more socially sustainable continental and international agenda for AIDS.