UNAIDS extends its warmest congratulations to the Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima on her appointment as chair of the board of trustees of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).
Ms Byanyima will take up her new position with IIED, a leading independent policy and research organization tackling climate change, nature loss and inequality, in January 2027.
Ms Byanyima announced her departure from UNAIDS at the Special Session of UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board on 26 October where she strongly expressed her commitment to continue to lead the Joint Programme with all her 'energy and determination until the final day of my mandate' which concludes on 31 December 2026.
UNAIDS extends its heartfelt thanks to Ms Byanyima who has courageously and forcefully led UNAIDS through a period of profound challenges and transformation. She has steered the Joint Programme through turbulent times, strengthened its foundations and sustained a strong global AIDS response, based on evidence, data and human rights, with people living with HIV and communities at the centre.
UNAIDS wishes Ms Byanyima all the very best in her new endeavor.
UNAIDS
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations-UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank-and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org
