As the HIV response works to close the HIV-related inequalities that slow progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat, outlined in the Global AIDS Strategy, the multisectoral leadership of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is as important as ever. By design, it brings together the complementary contributions of its 11 Cosponsors and the Secretariat to ‘much more than the sum of its parts’, leveraging their comparative advantages in a partnership to support countries and communities. This holistic, multisectoral approach is vital for closing the gaps and the inequalities in the HIV response.

The Joint Programme combines political, normative and technical leadership in the health sector with a people-centred approach that seeks to advance gender equality and human rights. It applies its resources and leadership to a range of cross-cutting issues: sexual and reproductive health, education, the world of work, social protection, food security, drug policy, and financing for health and development. Cosponsors and the Secretariat bring unique expertise with respect to populations at risk of or heavily affected by HIV, including women, children, adolescents and young people, key populations and people living in humanitarian settings. The multisectoral approach of the Joint Programme also links its contribution with broader efforts to advance international development, including the health and socioeconomic benefits that the HIV response brings to the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNAIDS' division of labour clarifies the roles and responsibilities of each member of the Joint Programme, including identifying lead agencies in specific results areas in accordance with the UNAIDS Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF). The UBRAF provides the blueprint for the Joint Programme's work to implement the 2021–2026 Global AIDS Strategy.

Learn more about the work, the resources and the results of each organization by clicking on the list on the left hand side.