Governments, communities, civil society and United Nations partners have called for a transformed Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)  that is more integrated, efficient and sustainable, while retaining the leadership, accountability and community partnership needed to end AIDS as a public health threat. 

At a two-day multi-stakeholder consultation, participants considered options being developed by the Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) Working Group on the future transition and integration of UNAIDS within the UN system to end AIDS by 2030 and protect the gains beyond.  

“Countries want a Joint Programme led by a strong Secretariat, or Hub, with political weight, visibility and authority. A Hub able to work across sectors and beyond the limitations of any single institutional mandate. And a Hub that protects the space for communities to influence decisions, shape priorities and hold institutions accountable,” said Paul Zubail, Deputy Director General for European and International Politics at the German Federal Ministry of Health. 

“Should that Hub become leaner over time? Yes. But leaner cannot mean weaker. If we expect the Hub to lead, it must have the capacity and standing to lead. Reducing it to a marginal coordinating function would dismantle the central driving force of the UN’s HIV response,” he added. 

Participants were clear that transformation must strengthen, not dilute, the HIV response. They broadly supported a more coordinated ‘One UN’ approach and stronger national ownership. At the same time, they stressed that any transition must be phased, evidence-based and tailored to country realities, particularly where HIV infections are rising, services are under pressure, or human rights and civic space are at risk. 

“The success of this transition will be measured not by the speed of institutional change, but by whether people continue to receive the support, protection and services they need,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Success is about transitioning to national institutions, not simply redistributing functions within the UN system.” 

The Working Group leading the recommended transformation process has already agreed that sunsetting the UN Joint Programme is not a viable option. Its proposals aim to build a leaner, more cohesive Joint Programme in which co-sponsoring organizations take stronger responsibility for technical implementation, while a hub retains the capacity to lead, convene, advocate, gather and analyse data, promote accountability and uphold human rights and gender equality. 

Participants emphasized that country-level arrangements must not follow a single template. In some settings, functions may increasingly be coordinated through Resident Coordinator offices, co-sponsoring organizations or national institutions. 

 “UNAIDS’ institutional knowledge, technical expertise and partnerships built over years, especially at country level and with communities are an important asset for the global HIV response.” said Uday Bhanu Da, Representative of India, Ministry of Health and National HIV/AIDS Control Programme. 

Thembisile Xulu, CEO of the South African National AIDS Council, Chairperson of the HIV Leadership Forum and Chair of the Global NAC Community of Practice, representing the heads of National AIDS Councils from more than 40 countries, highlighted the value of UNAIDS’ systems, structures, experience and political standing in supporting country-level impact. She stressed that the future of UNAIDS country hubs should be shaped by the context and needs of each country.  

But many speakers highlighted the need for continued, identifiable HIV leadership in countries where national systems are not yet ready to assume these functions, where communities face criminalization or discrimination, or where the response requires urgent coordination. 

Community representatives repeatedly underlined that UNAIDS’ contribution is not only technical. Its relationships with communities, governments and partners have helped create space for people living with HIV and key populations to influence policies, challenge stigma and secure access to services. Participants called for those relationships, as well as technical capacity, to be protected through any transition. 

Speaking on behalf of Global Black Gay Men Connect, Michael Ighodaro, Executive Director, and a man living with HIV, stressed the need for clear criteria for country transitions, meaningful community involvement, continued protection for key populations, and resources that reach communities directly. 

“Integration must not mean dilution,” was a recurring message. Participants called for clear safeguards to ensure that HIV expertise, community engagement, human rights, gender equality and multisectoral coordination are not lost as responsibilities shift across the UN system. 

There was strong support for developing transparent readiness criteria to guide any transfer of functions. These should consider epidemiology, national capacity, financing, community participation, human rights, gender equality and civic space. Participants also called for every future country arrangement to have a named, resourced and accountable HIV coordination function, with clear authority to convene partners and engage communities. 

The consultation also highlighted the importance of regional capacity. Participants noted that regional support is essential for addressing cross-border HIV challenges, sharing expertise, supporting community networks and responding to diverse epidemics and political contexts. 

Funding was a central issue throughout the discussions. Participants agreed that the future model must be financially sustainable and viable but stressed that financing should follow the functions that the PCB wishes to retain. The Working Group is examining different budget scenarios and will provide further analysis of the implications of different funding levels, including the costs of a responsible transition. 

The consultation also affirmed the distinctive governance role of the PCB, including its participation by civil society. Participants called for stronger mutual accountability among co-sponsors, communities, the UNAIDS hub and Member States, and for meaningful community involvement in decisions on resources, monitoring and results. 

The Working Group will now incorporate the feedback received into its final plan. The plan is expected to be published on 8 October and will be considered by the PCB at a special session on 26 October. 

The consultations underscored a shared commitment to build a renewed Joint Programme that is fit for the changing world characterized by funding declines for HIV and other public health programmes, rooted in national ownership and community leadership, and able to work with countries and communities to end AIDS.