UNAIDS and NEPAD Agency sign agreement to advance Africa’s
AIDS response
ADDIS ABABA, 27 March 2012 - The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Agency today signed
a memorandum of understanding (MoU) calling for strategic collaboration to advance
sustainable responses to HIV, health and development across the African continent. The
MoU was signed by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and Chief Executive Officer of
NEPAD Agency, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, on the sidelines of a colloquium marking the 10th
anniversary of NEPAD in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Under the terms of the agreement, UNAIDS and the NEPAD Agency will work with partners
to: support the development of common African positions for the AIDS response, with an
emphasis on sustainable financing; address constraints in access to HIV medicines; facilitate
policies and partnerships to eliminate new HIV infections in children and improve the health
of mothers; enhance country ownership and accountability; and encourage South-South
cooperation.
"This new partnership will bring us one step closer to our goal of zero new HIV infections,
zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths," said the UNAIDS Executive Director, at a
press conference on 27 March after the signing of the MoU. Mr Sidibé said that "getting to
zero" would demand effective and inclusive partnerships, shared responsibility, greater
transparency and a focus on results-areas in which NEPAD is known to excel.
Speaking alongside Mr Sidibé at the press conference, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki said that country
ownership would be critical to advancing AIDS and development responses in the coming
decade. "Partnerships for development can only succeed if they are led by developing
countries," said the Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD Agency. "AIDS programmes must be
financially sustainable over the long term and tailored to specific national settings," he
added.
Sub-Saharan Africa carries the highest HIV burden of any region in the world. In 2010, about
68% of all people living with HIV resided in sub-Saharan Africa, a region with only 12% of
the global population.
About two-thirds of all AIDS investments in Africa currently come from external sources.
According to UNAIDS estimates, Africa will require between US$ 11-12 billion for its regional
AIDS response by 2015-US$ 3-4 billion more than the current expenditure.
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UNAIDS Geneva | Saira Stewart | tel. +41 22 791 2511| stewarts@unaids.org
UNAIDS Ethiopia | Rahel Gettu | tel. +251 115 444 442 | gettur@unaids.org
NEPAD Agency | Gilles Eric Foadey | tel. +251 931189252 | erickf@nepad.org
UNAIDS
UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, is an innovative United Nations
partnership that leads and inspires the world in achieving universal access to HIV
prevention, treatment, care and support. Learn more at unaids.org
NEPAD
The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is a programme of the African
Union (AU) adopted in Lusaka, Zambia, in 2001. NEPAD's objective is to enhance Africa's
growth, development and participation in the global economy. In February 2010, the 14th AU
Assembly established the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) as a
technical body of the AU to replace the NEPAD Secretariat. The NEPAD Agency is a key
outcome of the integration of NEPAD into the AU. Read more about NEPAD's Principles,
Programme of Action, Priorities and desired Outcomes by visiting www.nepad.org
Source: UNAIDS
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