The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

Index of articles from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

As the main advocate for global action on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS leads, strengthens and supports an expanded response aimed at preventing the transmission of HIV, providing care and support, reducing the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV/AIDS, and alleviating the impact of the epidemic.

What We Do

As the leading advocate for worldwide action against HIV/AIDS, the global mission of UNAIDS is to lead, strengthen and support an expanded response to the epidemic that will:

• prevent the spread of HIV
• provide care and support for those infected and affected by the disease
• reduce the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV/AIDS
• alleviate the socioeconomic and human impact of the epidemic.

Why UNAIDS?

From 1986, the World Health Organization (WHO) had the lead responsibility on AIDS in the United Nations, helping countries to set up much-needed national AIDS programmes. But by the mid-1990s, it became clear that the relentless spread of HIV, and the epidemic's devastating impact on all aspects of human lives and on social and economic development, were creating an emergency that would require a greatly expanded United Nations effort. Nor could any single United Nations organization provide the coordinated level of assistance needed to address the many factors driving the HIV epidemic, or help countries deal with the impact of HIV/AIDS on households, communities and local economies. Greater coordination would be needed to maximize the impact of UN efforts.

Addressing these challenges head-on, the United Nations took an innovative approach in 1996, drawing six organizations together in a joint and cosponsored programme -- the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The six original Cosponsors of UNAIDS -- UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank -- were joined in April 1999 by UNDCP.

The goal of UNAIDS is to catalyse, strengthen and orchestrate the unique expertise, resources, and networks of influence that each of these organizations offers. Working together through UNAIDS, the Cosponsors expand their outreach through strategic alliances with other United Nations agencies, national governments, corporations, media, religious organizations, community-based groups, regional and country networks of people living with HIV/AIDS, and other nongovernmental organizations.

How UNAIDS Works

With an annual budget of US$ 60 million and a staff of 129 professionals, UNAIDS is a modest-sized programme with a substantial impact. The UNAIDS Secretariat operates as a catalyst and coordinator of action on AIDS, rather than as a direct funding or implementing agency.

The largest donors to UNAIDS in 1998 were the United States Government, which contributed US$ 15 million, followed by the Governments of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. UNAIDS also receives funds from non-traditional donors such as China, Thailand and South Africa.

UNAIDS is guided by a Programme Coordinating Board with representatives of 22 governments from all parts of the world, representatives of the 7 UNAIDS Cosponsors, and 5 representatives of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), including associations of people living with HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS is the first United Nations programme to include NGOs in its governing body. The Cosponsors and Secretariat also meet several times a year as the Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations (CCO).

The Secretariat of UNAIDS is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Current priority areas for the Secretariat include:

• young people
• highly vulnerable populations
• prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission
• developing and implementing community standards of AIDS care
• vaccine development
• special initiatives for hard-hit regions, including sub-Saharan Africa.

UNAIDS at Country Level

In developing countries, UNAIDS operates mainly through the country-based staff of its seven Cosponsors. Meeting as the host country's United Nations Theme Group on HIV/AIDS, representatives of the Cosponsoring organizations share information, plan and monitor coordinated action between themselves and with other partners, and decide on joint financing of major AIDS activities in support of the country's government and other national partners. The principal objective of the Theme Group is to support the host country's efforts to mount an effective and comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS.

In most cases, the host government is invited to be part of the Theme Group. Increasingly, other partners such as representatives of other United Nations agencies and bilateral organizations working in the country are also included.

In priority countries the Theme Group has the support of a UNAIDS staff member, called a Country Programme Adviser (CPA). Elsewhere, a staff member of one of the seven Cosponsors serves as the UNAIDS focal point for the country. In addition to supporting the UN system, these staff endeavour to build national commitment to AIDS action and provide information and guidance to a range of host country partners, including government departments and groups and organizations from civil society, such as people living with HIV/AIDS.

The UNAIDS Secretariat makes catalytic funding available for selected AIDS initiatives. Between January 1998 and May 1999, proposals were received and approved for projects in a total of 87 countries.

As of April 1999, the UNAIDS Cosponsors had established 132 United Nations Theme Groups on HIV/AIDS covering 155 countries. For their day-to-day operations, most Theme Groups have set up special working groups that involve donors, NGOs and groups of people living with HIV/AIDS.