At #UNGA81, governments, communities, UN leaders and global health partners gathered to discuss the transformation of the Joint UN Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) and what is needed to sustain progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The discussion comes as the UN undergoes major reforms and the global health landscape is changing, with countries facing constrained financing, widening inequalities and growing pressure on health systems. For UNAIDS Executive Director @Winnie_Byanyima, transformation is about strengthening country ownership: “Ultimately, transformation is not only about integrating UNAIDS into the UN system, it’s about integrating the AIDS response into stronger national institutions.” Botswana’s Minister of Health Stephen Modise, reflected on what the HIV response has achieved through political leadership, communities, science and partnership. “Our journey has shown what is possible when political leadership, communities, science, and partnership come together with common purpose and coordinated support. We would not have reached this point without the Joint Programme.” As UNAIDS transforms, participants highlighted the importance of preserving the functions that have helped drive progress: political leadership, coordination, accountability, community engagement and support to countries. The message was clear: transformation must help sustain the gains of the HIV response and support countries and communities to finish the job of ending AIDS.