UNAIDS is remembering the life and work of Calle Almedal, UNAIDS Senior Adviser on Partnerships with Civil Society and Faith-Based Organizations from 1997 to 2007. He was born in Sweden in 1945 and died on 7 June 2018 following a long battle with cancer.
“Calle Almedal was an outstanding professional, a passionate advocate and a personal friend and colleague. His legacy lives on in the lives of people of faith and of no faith in every corner of the world,” said Michel Sidibé, the Executive Director of UNAIDS.
Mr Almedal pioneered UNAIDS’ work with a wide range of civil society groups. Through his work, new and innovative partnerships were forged that developed the capacity of partners to respond to the HIV epidemic. For example, he brokered a partnership between the Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Global Network of People Living with HIV that resulted in the IFRC’s offices offering space to newly formed country networks of people living with HIV.
However, he is best known for his work with the faith community. He championed the concept of AIDS-competent churches and was a passionate advocate for human rights and justice for people living with HIV. He also championed the rights of people on the margins of society, particularly people ostracized by faith communities.
A person of faith himself, Mr Almedal challenged faith communities to address issues inside their own communities that put people at risk of HIV before addressing issues outside of the community. Without this so-called in-reach work, he explained that the church would lose its credibility—he gave the same challenge to UNAIDS.
He worked in a way that drew people towards him. He was known for his quick wit, keen sense of humour and sharp critique—a combination of qualities that, along with his dedication, passion and drive, made his work in partnerships so successful.
Mr Almedal trained in nursing and public health and theology. Prior to joining UNAIDS, he served in Lebanon, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mozambique, Thailand and Yemen with the Norwegian Red Cross.
