The United Nations agency leading the fight against HIV is preparing to reduce its staff by more than 50% and relocate many roles to lower-cost countries after significant funding losses from key donors across the U.S., Europe and Asia.
In a statement, UNAIDS warned that “the overall global AIDS response is facing a severe shock and many of the gains made in the past few decades are at risk of being reversed.” The agency said the reorganization comes in response to an independent panel’s call for “downsizing” its Geneva headquarters while safeguarding “the most essential functions.” UNAIDS added it will retain operations in 36 countries.
The cuts by the current Trump administration, part of broader reductions in global health aid have delivered what may be the most serious setback yet to the global HIV/AIDS response.
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UNAIDS previously cautioned that without the swift restoration of support, the coming years could see over 6 million additional deaths and around 2,000 new HIV infections per day.
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At a staff meeting on Tuesday, employees were informed that the agency’s workforce would shrink from roughly 600 to between 280 and 300, according to participants.
To reduce costs, officials are weighing plans to relocate positions to existing offices in more affordable cities, including Bonn, Nairobi, and Johannesburg — the latter being in the country with the world’s highest HIV prevalence, spokesperson Charlotte Sector told the Associated Press.
Established in 1996, UNAIDS was formed in part to correct gaps in the global HIV response led by the World Health Organization, which still provides some of the agency’s funding.
The second Trump administration has enacted sweeping reductions or suspensions in U.S. support for many U.N.-affiliated organizations.
In a February interview with the AP, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima responded to the U.S. withdrawal by warning that new HIV infections could rise more than sixfold by 2029 if funding to the world’s largest AIDS program remains suspended. She also cautioned that more drug-resistant strains of the virus could develop.
Byanyima acknowledged shortcomings in past delivery of HIV aid, calling the moment “an opportunity to rethink and develop more efficient ways of delivering life-saving support.”
According to UNAIDS, U.S. contributions accounted for over 40% of its core and non-core budget in 2023, which totaled around $214 million. Other major donors included the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
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