Introduction
#TheUNAIDSWeNeed is embracing the new realities of the global HIV architecture, is adjusting to new ideas and is facing the challenges of change. This was evident at the 40th UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, June 27-June 29, 2017, under the chairpersonship of Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister of Health for Ghana.
The 40th PCB meeting took place during a time of great expectations and anticipation following a spring season of internal and external reviews, uncertainty of mission, vision, resources, and a keen interest among all stakeholders in a revised operating model, one that was prepared to balance its budget against continuing unmet needs with adjustment to the myriad changes confronting the global HIV community. As UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe stated in his report, “The world is in flux, we must all connect the dots, do some audacious thinking, confront obstacles with innovation and transformation, leaving no one behind”. Mr. Sidibe did acknowledge that tough decisions were to be made and the next steps in the change process would be the repositioning of the UNAIDS Secretariat. He stressed maintenance of capacity to remain relevant and continue to focus on human rights, support for civil society and ensuring continuity of work with all partners such as the Global Fund, PEPFAR, Co-sponsors and national governments.
To that end, the 40th PCB meeting reviewed the recommendations for changes in governance; financing and accountability; and jointing working from the Global Review Panel and undertook to further flesh out the recommended Action Plan for moving forward.
The agenda for the 40th PCB reflected the need to review the administration and operations of the Joint Programme and the Secretariat; to take action on the recommendations from the Global Review Panel; to review the Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF) performance and financial targets; to launch the Global Coalition on HIV Prevention and to revisit and strengthen the role of HIV Prevention in the 2020 goals. The NGO Delegation actively participated in all aspects of the PCB meeting. As this meeting was focused on the ‘business’ of administering and managing the Joint Programme, much of the work of the NGO Delegation was to make certain that the Joint Programme maintain capacity to work in the field/in country with and among key populations and persons living with HIV; to make certain the resource allocation framework was fair and appropriate to address needs in the field/in country; and to address staffing and resource mobilization issues, so no region or communities are left behind without UNAIDS support.
A bright spot on the agenda was a message from Lorena Castillo de Varela, First Lady of Panama, following the Executive Director’s report about her experiences and global efforts to bring about changes in the area of discrimination and stigma. Using the symbol of a butterfly, she strongly encouraged PCB members to transform ourselves and become like the butterfly, to become the change we want to see in the world.