EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
More than 30 years’ worth of global efforts since the start of the HIV epidemic have led to significant
decreases in the number of deaths attributed to AIDS and overall HIV incidence largely due to thetherapeutic and preventative benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Yet, there are millions of people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are not on ART and are thus vulnerable torapid HIV disease progression. There are also 2.0 million new HIV infections annually, and young people
aged 15-24 account for 30% of those infections.
The Fast-Track Cities Initiative aims to build upon, strengthen, and leverage existing HIV programs andresources in high HIV burden cities to strengthen their local AIDS responses to:Attain Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 targets:
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90% of all PLHIV will know their status
90% of all PLHIV will receive sustained ART
90% of all PLHIV on ART will have durable viral suppression

Increase utilization of combination prevention, including pre-exposure prophylaxis
Reduce to zero the negative impact of discrimination and stigma
Monitor progress through a standardized approach to data generation, analysis, and reporting

The Fast-Track Cities Initiative is a global partnership between UNAIDS, the United Nations HumanSettlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care
(IAPAC). The core technical partner is IAPAC, whose responsibility is working with Fast-Track Cities todevelop, orient, and strengthen city-specific implementation plans to attain the 90-90-90 anddiscrimination and stigma targets.
The Fast-Track Cities Initiative is aligned with the UNAIDS Fast-Track Strategy for ending AIDS as a publichealth threat by 2030 by accelerating the AIDS response in urban settings and among key populations
toward attainment of the 90-90-90 and discrimination and stigma targets.

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The Fast-Track Cities Initiative is framed around a 5-element implementation plan which addresses thekey aspects necessary for a robust city-wide AIDS response: 1) Process and Oversight; 2) Monitoring andEvaluation; 3) Program Interventions; 4) Communications; and 5) Resource Mobilization.
Process and Oversight – FTCI core partners will provide support to convene Fast-Track City-wideconsultations, bringing local stakeholders together to gain consensus around attaining the 90-9090 and discrimination and stigma targets and forge coordinated city-wide responses.
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) – Fast-Track cities will be supported to develop a baseline
epidemiology profile and can be supported with HIV care continuum metrics guidance as needed.
Additionally, all Fast-Track Cities will have city-specific dashboards on a Global FTCI Web Portal,
which will track progress toward attainment of the 90-90-90 and discrimination and stigma
targets.
Program Interventions – FTCI core partners will aid in brokering strategic partnerships between
Fast-Track Cities and implementing, technical, and other partners through which to improve or
scale up management, operational, and/or programmatic aspects of local AIDS responses as ameans to attain the 90-90-90 and discrimination and stigma targets. IAPAC, the core technicalpartner, will provide capacity-building and technical assistance activities for local healthdepartments; clinical and service providers; and PLHIV and their advocates around HIV care
continuum optimization to attain the 90-90-90 and discrimination and stigma targets.
Communications – Fast-Track Cities will be supported to develop a communications plan aimed
at: 1) Improving visibility of the initiative; 2) Increasing stakeholder and community engagement;
3) Information sharing among local and global stakeholders; and 4) maintaining city-specificdashboards on the Global FTCI Web Portal with internal/external communications links.
Resource Mobilization – FTCI core partners will work with Fast-Track Cities to set targets, assess
local resources, mobilize local and international resources, and improve efficiency to ensure using
project costs to maximize local efforts in a sustainable manner. City leadership will also haveaccess to proposal and budget templates.

The Fast-Track Cities Initiative’s programmatic priorities are based on the following principles:
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Targeted, evidence-based biomedical, behavioral, and social interventions are fundamental toeach Fast-Track City’s accelerated local AIDS response;
Efforts to increase testing rates and early diagnosis are key to addressing the first, and one of
the largest, gaps across the HIV care continuum;
The role of specialized and, increasingly primary care, clinical providers is incredibly important,and the healthcare workforce itself, is key to the initiative’s success, as are affected
communities, including patient advocates and lay providers;
Building an enabling environment where discrimination and stigma do not prevent people fromaccessing health services will underpin success across all priority actions;Shared responsibility, at individual- and community-levels as well as government- and civilsociety-levels, will ensure cities’ efforts are grounded in local accountability; andStrategic M&E to inform each Fast-Track City’s response and allow for city officials to measure
and report progress to all stakeholders, most notably affected communities.

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