Since the beginning of the 2005-2009 National Multi-sector Strategic Plan, Rwanda’s national HIV response has made significant progress towards the goal of Universal Access to HIV and AIDS services. Continuing this progress, Rwanda decided to develop this new National Strategic Plan against HIV and AIDS before the end of the previous NMSP period.

The National Strategic Plan 2009-2012 on HIV and AIDS (NSP) is the result of more than a year of preparatory work, starting with the development of Rwanda's Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) 2008-2012, which sets out the overarching goals for the response to HIV and AIDS as well as reaffirming Rwanda's commitment to a multi-sector response. In addition, a wide range of analyses carried out in 2007 and 2008 have helped to ensure that the NSP is based on the most up to date understanding of the epidemic, that the strategies are based on evidence of what works in Rwanda and elsewhere, and that the strengths and weaknesses of the systems and mechanisms for responding to HIV and AIDS are addressed through the NSP.

The development of the NSP itself, which was carried out between January and March 2009, has been based on broad participation of all of the actors involved in fighting HIV and AIDS in Rwanda: communities, civil society organizations, ministries and development partners. As a result, we are confident that the strategies identified in the plan are those that are the most likely to achieve the ambitious results we are aiming for.

This new NSP present all stakeholders of Rwanda’s HIV and AIDS response with major challenges. We must all review our working methods with the aim of becoming more effective and more coherent in our common efforts. This document provides strong orientations and evidence-based strategies for achieving the ambitious results we have put forth.