HIV: Benin to contribute €544,042 to UNAIDS for 2026-2027

Benin will contribute €544,042, approximately 356.9 million FCFA, to UNAIDS for its activities in the country in 2026 and 2027. The agreement was signed on September 24 in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

This direct contribution is intended to support the agency’s presence in Benin and its interventions with public authorities and communities. UNAIDS’ statement specifically mentions strategic advice, data utilization, resource mobilization, and coordination among sectors involved in the HIV response.

During the signing, Benin’s Minister of Health, Benjamin Hounkpatin, described this commitment as a means to preserve the country’s achievements. According to the data he presented, new infections have decreased by 72% and AIDS-related deaths by 51% since 2010.

UNAIDS has been supporting Benin since 2001. With this contribution, the country joins the ranks of states that directly fund the program within their territory, alongside Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Brazil, China, and Thailand.

The agreement comes amid tensions over global health funding. Benin is also preparing to host the 24th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa in 2027.

The agreement covers the period from 2026 to 2027. The statement does not detail the disbursement schedule or the allocation of the €544,042 among the various support areas.