UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to help eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion and build resilience. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a vital role helping countries achieve the SDGs and deliver on the pledge to leave no one behind.
UNDP’s work in HIV and health is guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the 2021 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS, the 2021–2026 Global AIDS Strategy, the UNDP Strategic Plan (2022–2025), and the UNDP HIV and Health Strategy (2022–2025). The latter two documents commit UNDP to address the inequalities that drive pandemics; strengthen governance and systems for health to regain ground lost against HIV, TB and malaria due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and address emerging priorities such as noncommunicable diseases, mental health and pandemic preparedness.
In 2022-2023, UNDP supported 150 countries on HIV and health, including key populations in their HIV responses, promoting enabling legal and policy environments, and enhancing sustainable financing.
• Supported 57 countries through the UNDP-Global Fund partnership, saving 7.3 million lives since 2003. Through this partnership, UNDP provided antiretroviral therapy to 1.68 million people, HIV counselling and testing to six million people, services to prevent vertical HIV transmission to 121 000 women and support to Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanisms in 16 countries.
• Enabling legal, policy and regulatory environments were supported for HIV and health. UNDP continued to work with partners in 97 countries to advance the recommendations of the independent Global Commission on HIV and the Law.
• Supported rights and access to key populations to services and community-led responses. The UNDP-led "SCALE: Removing barriers to HIV services” initiative awarded grants to 33 organizations led by people living with HIV and other key populations in 16 countries. These help countering discriminatory laws, policies and practices which hinder access to HIV services and strengthening key population leadership and partnerships.
• Advanced LGBTQI+ rights and inclusion. UNDP worked with governments, UN partners, academia, private sector and civil society partners in 84 countries on LGBTQI+ rights and inclusion, including on countering homophobic and transphobic bills and attempts to limit the rights and access of LGBTQI+ people to services.
• Advanced gender equality and service access for women and girls. UNDP supported 69 countries to address gender equality and gender-based violence.
• Integrated digital inclusion approaches into health systems. UNDP supported 88 countries on digital inclusion in the health sector. This included the launch of its Digital Health for Development Hub as a “one-stop-shop” for technical and advisory support to help identify and implement appropriate digital health solutions.
