UN rules out closing its joint AIDS programme
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Unaids
The UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board ruled out closing the UN Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS and approved a strategic direction to transform and strengthen it. Meeting in a special session on 26 October 2026, it asked its chair to convey its decisions to the UN Economic and Social Council, according to UNAIDS.
The UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board ruled out closing UNAIDS on Monday 26 October and approved a strategic direction for its gradual transformation, according to UNAIDS. It asked its chair to convey these decisions to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The future arrangement is to retain a streamlined central secretariat responsible for four core functions, while UNAIDS co-sponsoring organisations take on greater technical responsibilities. Communities living with or at risk of HIV are to participate in designing and leading the programme, with human rights and gender equality protected, according to UNAIDS.
The board chose a phased transition, tailored to each country’s context and level of readiness. It also asked UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima to establish a transition team bringing together the secretariat, co-sponsoring organisations and two community representatives, according to UNAIDS.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said the reform should preserve and strengthen the global HIV response, anchoring it more firmly at country level. The reorganisation is part of the UN80 reform direction set by the United Nations Secretary-General.
