Youth LEAD at the 56th UNAIDS PCB: Centering Communities in the HIV Response
From 24 to 26 June 2025, the 56th UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) meeting was held in Geneva, Switzerland, gathering member states, cosponsoring agencies, and civil society to discuss key developments in the global HIV response. Representing the Asia-Pacific NGO Delegation, Jeremy Tan Fok Jun, Programme Officer of Youth LEAD, delivered an intervention under agenda item 4 on the Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF) 2022 to 2026.
In his intervention, Jeremy urged the Board to look beyond financial reports and focus on what those investments have made possible. He emphasized that the figures in the UBRAF are not just numbers on paper, but reflect real lives, services, and progress achieved through years of community-led efforts. Drawing from site visits to organizations such as HOYMAS and MAONO Africa Centre for Transformation in 55th PCB at Nairobi Kenya, the intervention spotlighted the impact of UNAIDS funding and the risks faced if these investments are not sustained.
The intervention acknowledged the transparency of the financial reporting but called for deeper accountability. Jeremy highlighted the need to understand how each cosponsor contributes to the Joint Programme and how their efforts translate into real-world impact. He warned that while domestic HIV funding is shrinking in many countries, community programs are being paused, staff are being laid off, and critical services are pushed to the margins.
“Sustainability cannot just be a word we put in documents,” the interventio declared. “If we are serious about it, then we need to think ahead, protect what works, and give communities the tools they need to survive and thrive.”
The NGO Delegation reinforced that communities are not safety nets, but part of the foundation of the HIV response. They are still doing the work, still reaching the people that others cannot, but they need meaningful support. This includes being trusted, funded, and included in strategic decision-making processes. The call to action was clear: the response must remain rooted in people, grounded in equity, and built on shared responsibility.
Youth LEAD continues to champion the leadership of young key populations and community-led responses in global decision-making spaces. The intervention at the 56th PCB is a reminder that we must keep centering communities in both our budget conversations and our broader strategies for ending AIDS.
As part of its commitment to transparency and meaningful engagement, the NGO Delegation will organize a report-back webinar at the end of July. This webinar will unpack key highlights from the PCB meeting, share insights from the community interventions, and create space for feedback and collective reflection. Individuals and organizations interested in following the outcomes of the 56th PCB and understanding what it means for community-led responses are encouraged to stay alert and attend.
Stay connected with Youth LEAD and the NGO Delegation to UNAIDS for more updates, and follow us on our social media platforms for the webinar announcement.
Jeremy Tan Fok Jun
Asia Pacific, NGO Delegation to PCB