HEAIDS operates as a specialised programme of Higher Education South Africa (HESA), the organisation that represents the executive heads of all higher education institutions. The Department of Education designated HEAIDS as the implementing agency for the programme.

Programme Co-ordinating Unit

The HEAIDS Programme Coordinating Unit (PCU), housed at HESA's offices in Pretoria, is the key implementation structure responsible for the day-to-day management of the programme.

Programme Steering Committee

Strategic management of HEAIDS lies with the Programme Steering Committee (PSC). This includes senior managers of the Department of Education, representatives of HESA, including the organisation's chief executive officer, and representatives of the Delegation of the European Commission.

Strategic Advisory Committee

The HEAIDS Strategic Advisory Committee (SAC) consists of a range of senior university managers and HIV/AIDS experts from within the higher education sector, as well as the president of the South African Union of Students. The SAC is a resource for the PCU and plays a broader advocacy role.

Programme working groups

Several specialised programme working groups are active at operational level.

HIV/AIDS co-ordinating committees at all institutions

The HIV/AIDS co-ordinating committees (HICCs) at individual institutions play an important role in national structures. The HICCS oversee and harmonise various HIV/AIDS interventions on campuses and provide a link between executive management of institutions and operational personnel.