Strengthening National Leadership for Sustainable HIV Programs: A Policy Brief for Government Leaders

Recent pauses and restrictions in U.S. foreign assistance through oh mthe U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have led to a critical turning point in the global HIV response. Governments and communities report widespread HIV-focused clinic closures, layoffs of essential staff, service disruptions, and shortages of essential HIV prevention and treatment commodities. These disruptions have highlighted the vulnerability of national HIV programs that depend heavily on external support, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable, integrated, and nationally led solutions to safeguard progress in the fight against HIV.​

This policy brief outlines strategic recommendations for sustaining HIV responses during external funding transitions, emphasizing increased domestic and innovative financing, integration into national health systems, and the continued delivery of people-centered services for key and vulnerable populations.