The SidAlerte network is a group of 12 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in French speaking Africa formed in 1992 to assist countries in meeting the challenges of AIDS. The regional bureau in Conakry, Guinea, coordinates activities of NGOs in the West African nations of Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, and Togo. The bureau in Yaounde, Cameroon, coordinates activities in the Central African nations of Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Rwanda, and Zaire. The NGOs have undertaken increasingly important activities in their countries. Some, such as formation of hygiene committees in health facilities, are carried out in close cooperation with SidAlerte International, while others represent more local initiatives. Recent undertakings of SidAlerte branches in eight countries are summarized in this article. Severe sociopolitical problems in Zaire, Burundi, and Togo complicated efforts, and economic problems hampered progress everywhere. The SidAlerte office in Cameroon is actively involved in establishing hygiene committees in health facilities. A program to assist orphans and HIV-positive women involves monthly home visits to 58 children orphaned by AIDS in Yaounde. An IEC program for young people has trained 40 youth leaders in Yaounde and held talks in various cities. SidAlerte Burundi is assisting nearly 100 orphans and 50 widows of AIDS victims, and it has conducted seminars to train health workers in preventing HIV transmission during medical treatment. The Congo SidAlerte has four branches and is cooperating with UNICEF on a project to assist AIDS patients and their families. Activities in Zaire are limited to Kinshasa and include distribution of disinfectants and creating awareness of AIDS through messages in local languages on T-shirts. The program in Guinea has undertaken studies of prostitutes and bar girls with a view to developing prevention programs. SidAlerte Ivory Coast has conducted information campaigns, provided support for seropositive persons, and raised funds for support of AIDS orphans. The organization in Mali, with French assistance, is forming hygiene committees in hospitals and is also working to inform rural women migrating to cities of the risks of HIV infection. Debates and conferences on AIDS-related issues have been held in Togo.