About UNAIDS
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As the global advocate on AIDS, UNAIDS leads, strengthens and supports an expanded response. It is dedicated to preventing the transmission of HIV, reducing the suffering caused by HIV/AIDS and countering the impact of the pandemic on individuals, communities and societies.
To improve coordination and harmonisation of national responses to the epidemic, UNAIDS advocates for the 'Three Ones' principle, i.e. one agreed framework of action, one national AIDS coordinating authority with a broad-based multisectoral mandate and one agreed country level monitoring and evaluation system.
The UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa (RST ESA) provides timely, quality and coherent technical support and advice to UNAIDS Country Coordinators and country offices in order to enable them to fully deliver on commitments to strengthen the national AIDS response.
Within the overall goal to catalyze and facilitate an expanded response to HIV and AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa the RST supports action to:
- halt the epidemic by preventing new infections
- expand access to treatment, care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS
- expand care, protection and support for orphans and families affected by HIV and AIDS
Vision
The vision of the RST is that the peoples of Eastern and Southern Africa take control of the AIDS epidemic. It is a vision where young people, women and men have the information, skills, services and support necessary to stop new infections; where all people living with HIV live in an environment free from stigma and discrimination and have access to life saving treatments and care; and where children, especially orphans, and families affected by HIV and AIDS receive a compassionate and comprehensive care, protection and support.
Mission
The RST's mission is to mobilize regional partnerships and draw on the collective strengths of the UN system to support and strengthen country level capacities to scale up national programmes towards the achievement of universal access to prevention, treatment and care.
The RST's main clients are:
- At country level the UNAIDS Country Coordinators and through them support for the UN country team's HIV response through the UN Theme Groups on HIV (UNTGs). In countries with no Country Coordinator the RST provides direct support through the UNTG
- At regional level the regional UN entities, intergovernmental organisations, donors and nongovernmental organisations
- At global level the UNAIDS-Headquarters in Geneva and the interface with global partnerships
The RST's work is structured around five key areas:
- Technical and programming support
- Evidence-informed advocacy, communication and leadership engagement
- Partner coordination and involvement
- UN system support
- Management and operational support
RST activity is based on principles including: results for people; national ownership and country-led approaches; commitment to strengthening capacity; and the alignment of regional initiatives with national priorities.
The RST covers the following countries: