Unitaid’s Executive Board concluded this week in Johannesburg where members reflected on a transformative year of achievements and set the stage for future investments in global health. South Africa, a long-standing partner of Unitaid, provided a fitting location to spotlight the essential role of communities, governments, civil society, health partners and private sector in driving health innovation and shaping regional and global health outcomes.
Building on Unitaid’s commitment to innovation, the Board approved a new Area for Intervention to support and accelerate the transition toward climate-smart health products, recognizing that the health sector, while striving to improve health outcomes, accounts for approximately 4.6% of global carbon emissions. Under this new area of work, Unitaid aims to help communities adapt to climate-related health threats, reduce the environmental footprint of key health products and ensure their resilience to climate-related shocks, and drive sustainable innovation in global health systems.
This focus on innovation was further demonstrated through discussions on lenacapavir, a groundbreaking long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) product. Recognizing lenacapavir as a game-changer in HIV prevention, Unitaid has already committed US$22 million to support its early roll-out in South Africa and Brazil. This investment focuses on reaching at-risk populations – including adolescent girls and young women, men who have sex with men, and transgender and non-binary individuals – while preparing health systems for broader adoption of lenacapavir through partnerships with governments, civil society, and private sector actors.
“By focusing on areas like climate-smart health products and advancing transformative tools such as lenacapavir, the Board is ensuring that Unitaid remains at the forefront of addressing both current and emerging challenges,” said Unitaid Executive Board Chair Marisol Touraine. “These efforts, grounded in strong partnerships, will drive equitable and sustainable health solutions for the communities that need them most.”
The Board also approved updates to the Proposal Review Committee, Unitaid’s independent body of experts responsible for rigorously evaluating funding proposals, ensuring transparency and accountability in grant decision-making, and providing high-quality recommendations. This restructuring will expand the committee’s size and expertise to evaluate new proposals in emerging areas like climate and health.
South Africa’s leadership in health innovation was also highlighted through site visits to Unitaid-supported projects addressing critical health challenges. Board members visited adolescent health facilities managed by Wits RHI, observed advancements in tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis prevention and treatment with the National Department of Health and the Aurum Institute, explored efforts in cervical cancer prevention led by the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and visited manufacturing sites for key health products to gain insight into local production capacity and innovation.
“South Africa’s leadership in health innovation has been central to many of Unitaid’s successes over the years,” said Unitaid Executive Director Dr. Philippe Duneton. “Meeting here this week reinforced the vital role the country plays in advancing global health solutions, from pioneering HIV and TB treatments to strengthening regional manufacturing capacity. Our partnerships with South Africa exemplify how collaboration can drive transformative change for communities worldwide, in particular for long-acting PrEP products such as lenacapavir.”
Since 2012, Unitaid has partnered with South Africa to pioneer breakthroughs in HIV and TB treatment, self-testing technologies, and affordable medicines. Notable successes include the introduction of dolutegravir-based regimens to treat HIV, shortened treatments for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and improved cervical cancer screening tools. South Africa also plays a vital role in Unitaid’s Regional Manufacturing for Equitable Access initiative, which is strengthening Africa’s capacity to produce essential health products at scale.
As the meeting concluded, the Board emphasized the importance of continued investment, collaboration, and bold action to address today’s global health challenges. With a strong foundation built on partnerships like that with South Africa, Unitaid remains committed to delivering lifesaving innovations and creating sustainable, equitable health solutions for communities around the world.
