A major reform

In recognition of this concern, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) was established in January 1996. UNAIDS is a co-sponsored programme that brings together the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank in a common effort against the epidemic. It is the first programme of its kind in the UN system: a small programme with a large outreach and the potential to lever significant resources and action through the creation of strategic partnerships.

The UNAIDS cosponsors bring to this joint endeavour complementary mandates and multisectoral expertise, ranging from education and socio-economic development to women’s reproductive health. They are committed to joint planning and action, giving UNAIDS a “cooperative advantage” that translates into greater synergy and efficiency. Benefits include more effective advocacy, more effective use of UN system resources through the sharing of costs, and greater coherence in United Nations support to national AIDS programmes.