UN80 plans to dismantle UNAIDS by 2026: sign-on against this now
22 September 2025. Related: Early access, Activism & advocacy.
Simon Collins, HIV i-Base
On Sept 18 2025, plans to dramatically restructure the United Nations were issued to member states in response to reductions in US and international funding earlier this year. [1]
This included the alarming proposal to dismantle UNAIDS by the end of 2026, removing the structural focus on HIV/AIDS.
The NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) issued an immediate statement opposing the sunsetting of UNAIDS by the end of 2026 and calling for other organisations to support them. With the HIV response in crisis – funding cuts, projected increases in new infections and deaths – this proposal is dangerous and a betrayal of the 2030 goal to end AIDS. [2]
Sign-on now.
This is an urgent sign-on call while the UN80 is meeting in New York. [3]
Further plans: vague and ignoring health
The UN80 plans are detailed in a largely unreadable 45-page technical report that is structured about a programme for human rights.
- Peace and security
- Humanitarian (including WHO)
- Sustainable development (includes UNAIDS)
- Human rights
The only mention of health is a this short proposal on page 19:
32. Programmatic overlaps in food, mobility, data, health and nutrition reduce efficiency. Agencies are aligning responsibilities: FAO/WFP/IFAD on food security; UNHCR/IOM on mobility; UNICEF/WFP/UNHCR on beneficiary data; WHO/UNICEF/WFP on health and nutrition. Clearer divisions of labour will mean greater efficiency, predictability and results at scale.
The only mention of UNAIDS is on page 20:
39. We plan to sunset UNAIDS by the end of 2026. This would entail mainstreaming capacity and expertise into relevant entities of the UN development system in 2027.
Rapid two-phase changes
The proposals for UNAIDS changes are detailed in a different UN press release. The first phase during 2026 will involve cutting 55% of the UNAIDS workforce from 661 to 249 staff. It will also reduce a country presence from 85 to 44 countries where 80% of people living with HIV reside and where 71% of new infections occur. Regional hubs will be developed including in Nairobi, Johannesburg and Bangkok and UNAIDS’ presence in Geneva will be reduced by over 80%. [4]
The Secretariat of UNAIDS is then planned to be closed during a second phase in 2027.
The press release notes that UNAIDS will still be focussed on delivery of a new Global Health Strategy with targets for 2030.
References
- United Nations. UN80 Initiative. Shifting Paradigms:United to Deliver. Report of the Secretary General. Workstream 3: Changing Structures and Realigning Programmes.
https://www.un.org/un80-initiative/en/shifting-paradigms-1 (web page)
https://www.un.org/un80-initiative/en/media/103 (press release)
https://www.un.org/un80-initiative/sites/default/files/2025-09/un80_ws3-1_250919_1515.pdf (PDF) - NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS PCB. With the HIV Response in Crisis UNAIDS Must Not Be Sunset in 2026. (19 September 2025).
https://unaidspcbngo.org/news/with-the-hiv-response-in-crisis-unaids-must-not-be-sunset-in-2026 - Call for sign-ons to endorse the statement.
https://forms.gle/B5WpU5ar6o144Q7u8
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdS7tekksyX1GyVcf–HeuKpXgKT3tRvrd2CFg3UZPFG01cBA/viewform - UNAIDS press release. UN80 Secretary-General’s report – UNAIDS statement. (19 September 2025).
https://www.unaids.org/en/story-type/press-statement