GENEVA, 27 June 2025—UNAIDS 56^th Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) meeting concluded in Geneva, Switzerland this week at an unprecedented moment in the AIDS response with sudden and drastic cuts to HIV funding by international donors.

“We are seeing a massive interruption in international HIV financing which has created a systemic shock to the global HIV response, triggering huge disruptions to HIV treatment and prevention programmes around the world,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “However, our Joint Programme was created in crisis—it is in our DNA to face crisis and to fight our way out of crisis. We do not give up—we continue to stand with governments and communities as they commit to finish the fight to end AIDS.”

During the meeting board members endorsed UNAIDS’ new operating model based on the recommendations of the High-level panel for a resilient and fit-for-purpose UNAIDS and the direction of travel of UN80. The operating model underpins UNAIDS’ transformation, including the restructuring exercise currently underway for the UNAIDS Secretariat.

Board members endorsed four core functions for the UNAIDS Secretariat: Leadership and advocacy (including for global resource mobilization); Convening and coordination focused on sustainability of the global HIV response; Accountability through data, targets, strategy; and Community engagement—which will guide UNAIDS’ work going forward.

Board members, member states, civil society, communities, cosponsors and observers—all expressed solidarity with UNAIDS at this challenging juncture and board members showed their continued full confidence in the UNAIDS Joint Programme.

“UNAIDS has been at the centre of shaping programmes and policies for people living with HIV just like myself, and also for people who are risk of HIV like our children, adolescents, women and girls and all key populations. The work of UNAIDS is irreplaceable, it is a broker for governments, civil society and all partners ensuring that affected communities are effectively engaged but also meaningfully engaged in decisions that are made for us and importantly ensuring that the critical role we play in HIV and healthcare is protected. For me this is why the work of UNAIDS needs to continue. Let’s all rally behind the Joint Programme and support its continuity,” said Martha Clara Nakato, non-governmental delegate representing Africa.

An important outcome of the meeting was the Board's consideration of the outline for the Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031. The Strategy and the 2030 targets, to be adopted in December 2025, will inform the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS in 2026.

Many countries reiterated their pledges of support to UNAIDS, and a number made new pledges. Ms Byanyima expressed thanks to UNAIDS constant supporters: The Netherlands, Denmark, Australia, Germany, Luxembourg, Ireland, Norway, Canada, Japan and Monaco and showed her appreciation for the contributions received for 2025 and their steady support and leadership over many years.

She particularly appreciated the multiple year commitments made by Denmark, Australia, Netherlands, Ireland, Canada, China, Luxembourg and the UK. “This gives us certainty and predictability,” she said.

On the sidelines of the PCB, Ms Byanyima signed new funding agreements with the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia as well as with the Government of Flanders.

Belgium reconfirmed its long-standing partnership with UNAIDS through the upcoming renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding for 2025–2028, totalling €12 million. ‘Belgium is proud to be renewing its multi-year agreement with UNAIDS, supporting an effective multisectoral global HIV response that is rooted in human rights and places communities at the heart of the response. Belgium considers global health to be a global public good, which requires continued collective action and international cooperation. We will remain a committed partner in global health, to the fight against HIV and to multilateralism,’ said H.E. Mr. Christophe Payot, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations.

Ms Byanyima thanked the German Government for advancing €2 million to UNAIDS on their core contribution for 2025 and an additional financial contribution of up to €500 000 for moving additional staff to the UNAIDS hub in Bonn. "The financial situation of the Joint Programme is dire and risks undermining UNAIDS’ crucial work in the global HIV response. In order to help ensure UNAIDS can deliver on its mandate in 2025, Germany is pleased to confirm a further contribution of €2 million as part of our overall commitment," said Paul Zubeil, Deputy Director-General for European and International Health Politics, Germany.

Spain announced that it will be increasing its core support to UNAIDS. Portugal announced that they would be doubling their contribution and Poland announced that they would also be increasing its contribution to UNAIDS.

“The contributions of all of our donors—whether it is core support or extrabudgetary support—provided in the past or present is precious and critical to our success,” said Ms Byanyima.

The 56^th PCB was chaired by Brazil, with the Netherlands serving as the Vice-Chair and Kenya as Rapporteur. The Report to the Board by the UNAIDS Executive Director, and the reports for each agenda item and the PCB’s decisions can be found here. The 57^th meeting of the PCB will take place 16-18 December 2025, in Brasilia, Brazil.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.