UNAIDS at a glance

UNAIDS main office is located in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to its Geneva-based staff, UNAIDS is posting Country Programme Advisers in approximately 50 countries and intercountry teams in selected locations.

The multinational, multicultural professional staff of UNAIDS come from all major regions of the world; 40% are women. Many disciplines are represented, including health economics, human rights, clinical management, social science, communications and epidemiology.

UNAIDS is governed by a Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) with representatives of 22 governments from all geographic regions; government membership rotates. Also represented are the six cosponsoring organizations, and five nongovernmental organizations, including associations of people living with HIV/AIDS this is a first in the UN system. The PCB, which meets at least once a year, has the ultimate responsibility for all policy and budgetary matters.

Breakdown of the US$ 120 million UNAIDS budget for the 1996-1997 biennium

The six cosponsors also meet as a separate committee 2-4 times a year. The Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations (CCO) makes input into policy and programme development and helps ensure that policies and guidelines developed in partnership with UNAIDS are fed back into their own work.