THE PANEL

At its 39th session in December 2016, the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB), asked UNAIDS to establish a Global Review Panel on the future of the Joint Programme Model (the Panel). It was co-convened by the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, and UNDP Administrator and UNDG Chair, Helen Clark, and co-chaired by Awa Coll-Seck, Minister of Health, Senegal, and Lennarth Hjelmåker, Ambassador for Global Health, Sweden, to provide recommendations for a sustainable and fit for purpose Joint Programme.

From January to April 2017, the Panel focussed on three pillars: Joint Working, Governance & Financing and Accountability. Its work was informed by two face-to-face meetings, a virtual consultation, a multistakeholder country consultation, and extensive discussion with stakeholders and experts as well as within the Joint Programme.

The Panel’s process was characterized by its inclusiveness and transparency. The Panel delivered its final report and recommendations in fewer than four months. It was composed of 16 experienced and technical members with a deep knowledge of the Joint Programme and the evolving development landscape, including PCB chairs, Member States, civil society, people living with HIV, and was regionally representative.

The Panel’s report validates the added value and fundamental elements of the unique Joint Programme, and reinforces its multisectoral approach and central role within the global health architecture, including as a critical partner to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The Panel commended the fundamental idea of the Joint Programme in its ability to reduce duplication and increase efficiency. Described as the most effective way to leverage competencies of each agency, it embodies the key approaches required by Agenda 2030 — a model 20 years ahead of its time. The report further proposes solutions to redefining how the Joint Programme works to deliver results. The recommendations place strong emphasis on reinvigorating country-level joint work and collaborative action.

Embracing the recommendations of the Global Review Panel and building on the UNAIDS 2016–2021 Strategy, the Joint Programme developed an Action Plan. The Plan seeks to shape a more cohesive, integrated and effective partnership. It presents a set of near-term actions and deliverables which emphasizes flexibility, differentiation, prioritization and inclusiveness. The Action Plan is guided by three overarching objectives:

• to deploy human and financial resources where they are needed most;
• to reinvigorate country-level joint work and collaborative action, and;
• to reinforce accountability and results for people.

The new model presented by the Plan focuses on tailored country presence, smarter investments at the country level, greater attention to the drivers and incentives for joint work and strengthening the strategic focus of the Joint Programme’s governance mechanisms. Because the AIDS response has no one-size-fits-all solutions, the Plan emphasizes forward-looking, flexible approaches custom-built for each unique country context and led by diverse teams--as called for in Agenda 2030 and the 2016 Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review. Such  approaches would enable the Joint Programme to innovate and solve problems quickly as they arise in the field. This Action Plan squarely positions the Joint Programme as pathfinder amidst broader reform of UN Development System. UNAIDS Cosponsors and the Secretariat are now hard at work implementing it with all their relevant partners, globally and at regional and country level.