UK international development approach shifts focus
Kirsty McNeill, the minister for international development and Africa, highlighted this week a shift in the UK’s approach to partnerships, emphasizing collaboration over hierarchy. “It’s not about one country having all the answers and another having all the questions,” she stated, underscoring the importance of leveraging different strengths for greater collective impact, reports BritPanorama.
The evolution from traditional aid models to one centered on solidarity and partnership is a concern echoed by many involved in international development. This approach has been a foundational principle of the global HIV response for years. Community leadership remains vital, with significant progress in access to treatment since the UK co-founded the Global Fund partnership in 2002, when just 102,000 people, less than 1 per cent of those living with HIV, received treatment.
Recent data from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria reveals a marked increase in access to antiretroviral therapy, with 26.9 million people receiving treatment last year in its investing countries. Moreover, AIDS-related deaths have significantly decreased, down to 570,000 in 2025 from 1.3 million in 2010.
However, the current environment poses challenges. In 2025, donor government funding for HIV dropped by $2.1 billion (£1.6 billion), translating to a 25 per cent reduction compared to 2024. This decline particularly affects HIV prevention efforts and has a disparate impact on women, who now account for 6 out of 10 new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa, with young women aged 15-24 at heightened risk.
The UK’s reduction of its official development assistance (ODA) budget to 0.3 per cent raises concerns about its diminishing role in global health leadership. While there is a positive shift towards collaborative models of international development, the UK’s ongoing commitment to advocating for community leadership is essential.
Community-led organizations, instrumental in the HIV response, face significant challenges due to funding cuts, with some reporting a 50 per cent reduction in their ability to provide critical services. Compounding these issues, there has been a rollback on human rights, with increased criminalization of marginalized communities—a worrying trend noted by UNAIDS.
Despite these setbacks, the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 remains attainable. Achieving this will require renewed commitments to community leadership and human rights, along with the scaling up and rollout of innovations such as the twice-yearly jab for HIV prevention, lenacapavir. Partnerships that promote sustainable national responses are crucial.
Access to scientific and medical advancements for low- and middle-income countries is imperative in the coming years. The decisions made by UK political leadership and the provision of sustainable funding will be pivotal in determining the trajectory of the HIV response and the achievement of global health goals.
In facing these critical challenges, the narrative around HIV funding remains at a crucial juncture, reflecting both the complexities of international development and the urgent need for a unified response.
