HIV/AIDS presents an unprecedented challenge to development, requiring an extraordinary response from the international community. 33.4 million people live with the virus and 95% of them are in the developing world. 2.5 million deaths were attributed to HIV/AIDS in 1998 alone. The challenge is particularly acute in Africa where two out of every three HIV/AIDS sufferers live.

The HIV/AIDS Strategy provides a framework for intensifying Ireland Aid's response to this challenge in a coherent way across the whole programme. It draws on a situation analysis of Ireland Aid's priority countries - Lesotho, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Uganda - and best practice internationally and within Ireland Aid itself. The strategy highlights opportunities in a number of areas where the potential to influence the course of HIV/AIDS in the development process has been identified.