Trinidad & Tobago

HIV & AIDS

Indian Cricketer Sachen Tandulker, at the Pride of Gonzales Project as part of the HIV & AIDS initiative of UN/West Indies Players Association.

There are numerous social factors contributing to the prevalence of HIV and AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago. UNDP programmes focus on building capacity within the Government to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS and provide the institutional arrangements for a coordinated response. With support from UNDP, Trinidad and Tobago has developed a National Strategic Plan that now guides the country’s response to HIV and AIDS.

UNDP also provided technical assistance for the establishment of the National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC), which is responsible for managing the multi-dimensional response to HIV and AIDS, including research and policy setting.

UNDP is currently providing technical assistance to build similar capacity in our sister island of Tobago.

Of crucial importance is building capacity within communities that enable them to develop sustainable and innovative programmes. Much of this is based on the individual and collective experiences of these communities in dealing with HIV and AIDS.

UNDP has also utilized resources from the Programme Accelerated Funds to strengthen youth organizations, in response to this group having the highest rate of infection, particularly among women.

In the absence of comprehensive research on the various facets of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, UNDP commissioned a National Human Development Report on the issue.

UNDP works to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS and reduce its impact. As a trusted development partner, and co-sponsor of UNAIDS, it helps countries :

• Put HIV and AIDS at the centre of national development and poverty reduction strategies;

• Build national capacity to mobilize all levels of government and civil society for a coordinated and effective response to the epidemic;

• Protect the rights of people living with AIDS, women, and vulnerable populations.

UNDP has played a critical role both at the country level as well as within the Caribbean region.  The work in this area was closely aligned with downstream work being done to strengthen capacity at the community level for dealing with social issues.

UNDP’s HIV & AIDS portfolio in Trinidad and Tobago is concentrated in the following area: