In the last few years, a number of African mayors and municipal officials have become leaders in relation to responses to the HIV epidemic. They have seen, at first hand, the devastating impact of the epidemic within their communities. During two UN-sponsored consultative meetings in 1997 and 1998, a number of African leaders came together and formed the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS. With support from UNDP and UNAIDS, the Alliance has developed a strategy:the Alliance of Mayors’ Initiative for Community Action on AIDS at the Local Level (AMICAALL).