JOINT WORKING

Joint work is at the heart of the UNAIDS Joint Programme. The 11 UNAIDS Cosponsoring agencies and the Secretariat must leverage their diverse mandates and expertise to support a multisectoral response to the AIDS epidemic. A step change in UN coordination is needed to end AIDS within the integrated and indivisible Sustainable Development Goals. The AIDS response needs to be further brought out of isolation. How should this be done? In the area of joint working, the Global Review Panel is focusing on the following:

 The UNAIDS division of labour and optimal use of resources
An agreed division of labour guides the collective work of the Joint Programme at global, regional, and country levels. This division of labour was designed to be a flexible instrument that can be adapted based on individual country circumstances. However, it can sometimes hinder the provision of UN technical support in key areas of the response. Furthermore, decisions on the allocation of the Joint Programme’s core budget are made almost exclusively at headquarters level, and the allocation of human resources by Cosponsors and the Secretariat to countries is not always well-coordinated. This may limit opportunities for deeper and more flexible joint UN programming  at country level.

 Focus and integration
AIDS remains a global priority requiring specific initiatives and structures, but taking AIDS further out of isolation is needed to maximize synergies in the responses to AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis, cervical cancer, noncommunicable diseases and other health challenges. At country level, Joint UN Teams on AIDS are regarded as high performing working groups with UN Country Teams. However, Joint UN Teams on AIDS may need reorientation to support efforts to integrate AIDS-related activities within other health initiatives, whilst still maintaining the multisectoral nature of the AIDS response.

 Operational engagement of all key stakeholders in country responses
The existence of a dedicated Secretariat at global, regional, and country level facilitates coordination among the Joint Programme’s Cosponsoring agencies. However, engagement and collaboration outside the sphere of Cosponsors is mixed. The core work of UNAIDS includes engagement of relevant sectors, people living with HIV and civil society, as well as the provision of normative guidance and technical support to many partners. However, engagement with important entities in relevant areas, such as human rights and migration, is limited. There are also opportunities for more systematic collaboration with the private sector and foundations.

 QUESTIONS ON JOINT WORKING
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