MBABANE – The National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) is concerned that shutting down UNAIDS by 2026, as proposed, could destabilise the HIV response.
In a UN80 progress report published on September 18, the United Nations (UN) agency, focusing on the HIV/AIDS pandemic, disclosed that it could close by the end of next year as the UN restructures in the face of a funding crisis. The document states that UNAIDS will “sunset” by the end of 2026, part of a set of proposals from the UN to member States, which they will have to decide on. It adds that UNAIDS’ expertise should be shifted into the wider UN system in the following year.
NERCHA says through its multifaceted technical, strategic and advocacy support, alongside its coordinating role within the United Nations system, UNAIDS remains an indispensable partner to NERCHA and the nation at large in the collective pursuit of HIV epidemic control in Eswatini.
“AIDS is not over and the global response is facing its greatest disruption since the early days of the epidemic. We are concerned that sunsetting UNAIDS by 2026, as proposed in the UN80 progress report, would further destabilise the HIV response,” said Manager – Information and Knowledge Centre Sibusiso Ngubane.
He further mentioned that UNAIDS plays a critical leadership and coordination role in the global HIV response, driving progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Ngubane further detailed that UNAIDS’ engagement encompasses strategic, technical and advocacy assistance, which collectively strengthen the national response to HIV across various critical domains since its establishment in Eswatini in 1996.
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guteress’s report is a proposal that will be approved by the member States and is within the wider UN reform agenda. The manager – Information and Knowledge Centre at NERCHA, shared that in Eswatini, UNAIDS will maintain its presence, albeit with a significantly reduced footprint due to limited financial resources affecting many other agencies.
NERCHA shared extensively the work done with the assistance of UNAIDS in the country. Ngubane said UNAIDS had been integral in enhancing national capacity for gathering, analysing and utilising strategic information. This includes the provision of technical expertise in data collection methodologies, the development of robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks and the interpretation of epidemiological data to inform policy and programming decisions.
“The annual HIV estimates, Global AIDS monitoring reports and modelling to inform target settings are just few examples,” shared Ngubane.
He further shared that UNAIDS provides substantive support to NERCHA throughout the development, periodic review and revision of the national strategic plans for the HIV response.
Such support, he said, involves facilitating inclusive stakeholder consultations, supplying technical guidance on international best practices and ensuring alignment with global targets, notably those articulated in the Global AIDS strategies and political declarations. In the domain of resource mobilisation, UNAIDS assists NERCHA with the preparation and submission of Global Fund grant applications by offering technical guidance, reviewing proposals, ensuring alignment with national priorities and assisting in compliance with donor requirements to optimise the potential for successful grant outcomes.
“UNAIDS also serves as an active member of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) and provides guidance and support to improve governance, oversight and inclusion. UNAIDS serves as an active member of the CCM Oversight Committee,” added Ngubane.
He further highlighted that UNAIDS provides technical support for the implementation of national AIDS spending assessments, assisting in the development of local capacity to track and analyse HIV-related expenditures, identify resource gaps and inform evidence-based resource allocation.
UNAIDS supported the first ever NERCHA organisational review in 2015 and is currently collaborating with NERCHA to support another organisational review to make it fit for purpose in the context of an evolving response and effectiveness.
The manager highlighted that UNAIDS had played quite an integral part in improving the HIV response locally which was evident through the various initiatives facilitated by the agency.
UNAIDS further collaborated with NERCHA to conduct the first comprehensive HIV prevention analysis to identify effective HIV prevention strategies.
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UNAIDS Eswatini provides transparent overview of impact
MBABANE – The UNAIDS Country Director for Eswatini, Nuha Ceesay, has shared the potential impact of the proposed shutdown with the Times of Eswatini.
The country director highlighted how the announcement regarding the proposed sunsetting of UNAIDS in 2026 is a matter of considerable importance, with significant implications for the HIV response globally and within Eswatini.
“Given the gravity of this matter, we appreciate the opportunity to formally address the questions posed and to provide a transparent overview of the potential impact, transition strategies and the broader context as articulated by the United Nations Secretary General and the UNAIDS Board,” said the country director, responding to questions posed to him by this reporter.
Detailing the impact, Ceesay highlighted that Eswatini’s progress in reducing the burden of HIV and AIDS has been directly supported by the expertise, resources and leadership provided by UNAIDS.
“The country is being celebrated as the first one to meet the 95-95-95 global targets ahead of time and for turning the HIV epidemic from a crisis to an opportunity. Despite this, the kingdom still registers some 4 000 new HIV cases annually with an estimated 215 000 people living with HIV,” stated the UNAIDS country director.
He said a discontinuation of UNAIDS’ operations in 2026 would have direct consequences on a number of key national initiatives. Programmes most at risk include HIV prevention campaigns, community-based outreach activities, treatment and support services for individuals living with HIV, as well as robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
“UNAIDS has also committed to support Eswatini to develop the HIV sustainability roadmap, undertake HIV prevention modelling with the view to identifying HIV impact game changers to significantly reduce the 4 000 annual new HIV infections.
“UNAIDS leads the generation of annual HIV estimates which are used to track progress, set new targets, and refocus the HIV response,” he said.
Furthermore, he stated that the anticipated withdrawal of UNAIDS’ guidance and support could lead to gaps in service provision, challenge the delivery of life-saving care and hinder reliable data management, ultimately threatening the health of thousands across Eswatini. When questioned on transition measures to be implemented should the proposed shutdown be finalised, the UNAIDS country director detailed the mitigation measures.
“To mitigate the risks associated with this transition, a range of domestic and international measures are being put in place. Within Eswatini, there is a concerted effort to strengthen collaborations with government, civil society, enhance the operational capacity of NERCHA, the Ministry of Health, CANGO and identify alternative financial and technical resources to safeguard critical interventions,” explained the country director.
*Full article available in our publication.
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