UNAIDS: The First 10 Years

Chapter 2many other global programmes, UNAIDS was not created by a conference or convention.It was driven by a group of OECD bilateral donors, supported by activists seeking astronger response and designed by ECOSOC. The forces leading to establishment ofthe joint programme were a mixture of technical and political. They illustrate the rangeof expectations that built up. Some were dashed at the outset, by the chosen structure.Others have been the focus of the programme’s efforts. All have remained to some extentas a challenge to the programme’.45An important part of UNAIDS’ history concerns how it dealt with those expectations andchallenges over the decade that followed its launch.