South Africa’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, STIs and TB (2012-2016) identifies and highlights the importance of integrated local level responses for the HIV and TB epidemics. The resource book provides the reader with basic information about the tasks of AIDS Councils, basic facts on HIV, AIDS, STIs and TB, as well as on operational issues.

The purpose of this publication is to improve the quality of AIDS Councils by indentifying and monitoring capacity gaps of their members and by checking strategic options for the future scope of work

The document depicts the difficult situation that people whose sexual orientation or gender identity does not conform to majority norms are facing in many parts of the world, how they are particularly affected by HIV and how German Development Cooperation addresses this issue.

In 2001 the international community committed itself to attain the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 6 to effectively and sustainably respond to HIV and AIDS, Malaria and other diseases. The present document illustrates in which priority areas and through which measures Germany currently contributes to the global response to HIV and how it will do so in the coming years. The main pillars of the German contribution to the global HIV response are the realisation of human rights, including , e.g., a particular attention to disadvantaged groups and the promotion of the participation of civil society; effective HIV prevention and health system strengthening including integrated services with the aim of universal access to prevention, testing and therapy.