SAfAIDS activities are organised around the following core principles:

• promoting understanding, analysis, and focus on the critical impact of HIV and AIDS as a development issue rather than simply as a health issue;
• disseminating information that is effective in promoting changes in knowledge, practice, and behaviour of individuals and communities using an evidence-based approach taking into account lessons and best practices;
• promoting the use of multi-sectoral and multi-faceted regional responses and interventions to the epidemic;
• influencing key agencies to mainstream HIV and AIDS and gender related issues into their development work; and
• promoting the meaningful involvement of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) in SAfAIDS work in the region.

SAfAIDS strategies include the following:

Media - SAfAIDS Media department collaborates with print and broadcast media in southern Africa and beyond to encourage HIV and AIDS as part of the media agenda. The Media Resource Desk is designed to be a one-stop shop for journalists and other media practitioners to access quick, accurate, and user-friendly information on HIV and AIDS prevention, care, treatment, and support. SAfAIDS also runs weekly newspaper columns on HIV and AIDS in three different countries. In Lesotho, SAfAIDS runs a Lifeline Column in the "Public Eye" newspaper. In Swaziland, a Lifeline column runs in the "Swaziland Observer" while in Zimbabwe, there is a "Let's Talk about AIDS" column in "The Herald." The unit also produces communication for television and radio programmes in the region.

Online forums - SAfAIDS, in partnership with Health & Development Networks (HDN) through its Media unit, coordinates and moderates eForums which are part of the National Partnership Platforms. The eForums are online discussions organised around national, regional, and issue-based topics.

SAfAIDS Policy Desk - SAfAIDS has established a Policy Desk whose main purpose is to produce and disseminate HIV and AIDS information to both political and civil society leadership so that they can contribute towards the creation of a conducive HIV and AIDS policy environment. According to the organisers, HIV and AIDS information has been designed for the general public over the years, while political leadership has largely been left out. This created a gap in information levels between the two sections of the population resulting in limited opportunities of engagement to support the development of a comprehensive HIV and AIDS policy and legislative environment.

SAfAIDS Resource Centres Network - The network consists of strategically located and coordinated information resource centres and kiosks working to address HIV and AIDS information gaps between countries and hard to reach communities within Southern Africa. The use of information and communication technologies within the network intends to improve the flow of information to and from rural communities and marginalised populations. Satellite Resource Centres are open to walk-in and phone-in visitors, and also undertake outreach into communities.

Documentation of Best Practices - SAfAIDS promotes a participatory documentation process approach in which an effort is made to maximise the participation of the key stakeholders (partner organisations, beneficiaries, communities, etc.). This includes ensuring that people living with HIV and AIDS, women, and children are represented. Between 2007 and 2008, SAfAIDS documented a series of diverse best practices from across the region. Under a SADC project, national HIV and AIDS best practices were documented in 4 member states: Mauritius, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Publications - The HIV and AIDS Information Development and Documentation (HIDD) Unit is responsible for the overall materials development processes at SAfAIDS. Materials produced by SAfAIDS are designed for the populations of the 10 countries in the southern African region, and are primarily produced in both English and Portuguese (to cater for lusophone countries - Angola and Mozambique). Vernacular translations are also done, in partnership with national partners, as and when the need arises. SAfAIDS materials fall within the key categories of: periodicals, books, training materials (toolkits and manuals), awareness raising products (posters, booklets, leaflets, presentations, banners, stickers, labels, and edu-calendars) and best practice documents.

HIV/AIDS

SAfAIDS's partnership approach involves working through identified strategic partners who will contribute to a multiplier effect. The capacity building approach involves strengthening the ability of partners to provide SAfAIDS' products and services to grassroots communities, ensuring continuity of services and thus sustainability. SAfAIDS implements its activities through collaborative alliances: increasing diversity, uniqueness and synergy, thereby promoting learning and sharing in a complementary and sustainable manner. SAfAIDS partners are products piloting partners, technical partners and scale-out partners.