To prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and reduce its impact, developing countries need to mobilize all levels of government and civil society. As a trusted development partner, UNDP advocates for placing HIV/AIDS at the centre of national planning and budgets; helps build national capacity to manage initiatives that include people and institutions not usually involved with public health; and promotes decentralized responses that support community-level action. Because HIV/AIDS is a world-wide problem, UNDP supports these national efforts by offering knowledge, resources and best practices from around the world.

Although HIV/AIDS prevalence in Croatia is at the moment rather low, there is a realistic threat of possible explosion of the epidemic in the near future. Given the experiences of the other countries in the region, the figure of around 700 registered HIV/AIDS cases since 1986 could upsurge dramatically in few years time.

The UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS, as the main instrument of United Nations co-ordination on HIV/AIDS in Croatia, supports national institutions, develops monitoring and evaluation system and reinforces UNAIDS co-sponsor activities. Its main objective is to strengthen the national HIV/AIDS response. Members of the UN Theme Group are representatives of: UNHCR, UNICEF, WB, IOM, UNPFA and UNDP.

This is being implemented through the following programme:

Social Inclusion Programme (SOS)
The SOS Programme provides support to social groups and individuals who are at risk of social exclusion from different spheres: health, education, income, labour market, civic participation, while advocating policiy approaches leading to inclusion. Among other, the programme focuses on providing support to people living with HIV/AIDS.