UNAIDS expects to publish a plan for its future structure on 8 October, following a two-day consultation involving governments, communities, civil society and United Nations partners.
The proposals will go before its Programme Coordinating Board at a special session on 26 October, according to UNAIDS. The consultation itself did not approve a final restructuring.
What the proposals would change
The working group developing the plan has agreed that ending the UN Joint Programme is not a viable option.
Its proposals envisage greater responsibility for technical implementation among co-sponsoring organisations, while a central hub retains leadership, advocacy, data analysis and accountability functions.
Participants called for community involvement and safeguards for human rights to ensure any transition Funding arrangements remain under examination; the consultation does not announce a new grant programme.
Who makes the decisions
The Programme Coordinating Board oversees UNAIDS’ policies and priorities and reviews and approves its plans and budgets.
Its membership includes representatives of 22 governments, the programme’s co-sponsoring organisations and five non-governmental organisations, including associations of people living with HIV.
That structure gives civil society a formal place alongside governments and UN organisations. Recommendations from a consultation or working group therefore need to be distinguished from decisions by the governing board. The forthcoming plan will provide proposals for consideration, rather than evidence that every suggested change has already been authorised.
African voices in the consultation
Thembisile Xulu, Chief Executive of the South African National AIDS Council, stressed that future country arrangements should reflect each country’s needs.
The next milestone is the publication of the plan, followed by board consideration later in October.
