This case study describes and analyses the results of the Community Systems Strengthening (CSS) interventions and activities of the Maximizing ART for Better Health and Zero New HIV Infections (MaxART) programme between mid 2011 and mid 2014 in Swaziland. It demonstrates the key role of communities and community system interventions in successfully scaling up access to HIV prevention, treatment and care programmes, and the need for strong community systems when successfully implementing early treatment and reaching ambitious global targets to end the AIDS epidemic.