Fast-Tracking the HIV Response in 15 Priority Cities

Fast-Track Cities is a global partnership between more than 400 cities and municipalities, the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the City of Paris. Launched on World AIDS Day 2014, the partnership recognizes the critical role that cities play in the global HIV response, with its main aim to end urban HIV epidemics by getting to zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero HIV-related stigma. It further calls for advanced efforts to end tuberculosis (TB) and eliminate viral hepatitis (HBV and HCV) in urban settings by 2030. By signing the Paris Declaration on Cities ending the AIDS Epidemic (Paris Declaration), ¹ urban leaders joining the Fast-Track Cities network commit to (1) ending the AIDS Epidemic by 2030; (2) putting people at the center of the AIDS response; (3) addressing the causes of risk, vulnerability and HIV transmission; (4) using the AIDS response for positive social transformation; (5) building and accelerating an appropriate response to local needs; (6) mobilizing resources for integrated public health and development; and (7) unite as leaders, working inclusively and reporting annually on progress.

Jointly, UNAIDS and IAPAC, with financial support from the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), have been supporting a 5-year project to fast-track the response to the HIV epidemic in 15 priority cities, together accounting for about 3 million people living with HIV, to reach critical Fast-Track targets and to deliver on the commitments of the Paris Declaration. The cities include Blantyre, eThekwini (Durban), Jakarta, Johannesburg, Kampala, Kigali, Kingston, Kinshasa, Kyiv, Lagos, Lusaka, Maputo, Nairobi, Yaoundé, and Windhoek. ²

The Joint UNAIDS-IAPAC Fast-Track Cities project, which started in 2018, has been implemented in the context of larger and more comprehensive city initiatives, using key strategies to address challenges and to strengthen policy and programming for HIV. These strategies include (1) developing and implementing a city HIV strategic plan, aligned to national strategic plans or other existing local plans or strategies; (2) creating and strengthening an enabling environment; (3) collecting and using good quality strategic information on the HIV epidemic and response; (4) building the capacity of healthcare workers, communities and other key partners and stakeholders, including in addressing stigma and discrimination; and (5) adopting bold and creative innovations to strengthen HIV service delivery and uptake in the city.

Significant progress has been made in the HIV responses in the 15 cities supported through the project. ³ These cities are getting closer to achieving critical targets, ensuring that communities and people living with HIV have access to effective and locally appropriate HIV services free from stigma and discrimination. Coordination of the HIV responses in these cities has improved while city authorities, implementers, and care providers are enabled to accelerate their HIV responses effectively and sustainably. Furthermore, strategic information is available to track progress in the HIV response. The COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges but at the same time, spurred innovations and helped to increase solidarity while strengthening communities and partnerships. Cities have taken a leading role in addressing challenges and in findings ways to ensure that HIV services continued to be delivered where it is most needed.

The special edition on “Fast-tracking the HIV response in 15 cities” provides an opportunity for city stakeholders and partners from the participating cities to document the progress, achievements, challenges, and lessons that have been learned during the last 5 years of implementing the Fast-Track cities project. Papers will show the success that can be achieved, despite multiple challenges, when cities come together with partners and communities to accelerate the HIV response towards improved services for all its citizens.

Peer-reviewed manuscripts, short communications, and case studies will be published cumulatively online as they are approved and the special edition will be launched on World AIDS Day, December first, 2023. For further information please contact the editor of JIAPAC, Chris Duncombe ([e-mail]), or the guest editor for the special edition, Eleanor Gouws ([e-mail]).