NAP, civil society organisations, the UNAIDS secretariat and the UN Joint Team on HIV/AIDS enthusiastically endeavour to mainstream gender issues into the national HIV response; to achieve zero HIV transmission, zero HIV related-deaths and zero stigma and discrimination by 2015. The conducting of a gender assessment (which NAP, UNAIDS and UN WOMEN has planned for 2014) will provide an essential backbone to enable all stakeholders to understand the status quo of gender issues and HIV in Egypt. Previous studies have identified that women have a greater vulnerability to HIV, however we have not yet developed a comprehensive understanding of the issues; their complexity and their connections. A robust national strategic plan requires concrete recommendations with detailed actions to address gender specific issues. The gender assessment will characterize the current situation and the outcome will numerate gaps and propose informed approaches for addressing the issues associated with the national HIV response. Informed by the assessment, national stakeholders can convene to develop a strategy for tackling gender inequality issues specifically related to HIV in Egypt.

1. PREPARING FOR A GENDER ASSESSMENT
OF THE NATIONAL HIV RESPONSE
IN EGYPT
AUGUST 2014

2. BACKGROUND: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
GENDER ASSESMENT
2
Agenda to Respond to
HIV is developed
•UNAIDS Agenda for country action for women girls, gender quality and HIV
develops a strategic set of actions to better respond to the needs of
women and girls with HIV was launched during National AIDS Conference
2010
2012 – Systematic
review
•The Systematic review revealed a more efficient and standardized
approach to data collection was required
•The tool ensures that evidence based decisions can be confidently made
Gender
Assessment
Tool

3. WHAT IS THE GENDER ASSESSMENT?
3
• Specifically designed to meet the
needs of women and girls
• Considered in the context of HIV
A Set of initiatives
• Informing the effective health
initiatives
• to support the development of
NSP and inform submissions for
county investment cases
A tool used by
Countries to
assess the HIV
epidemic, context
and response

4. WHY A GENDER ASSESMENT IN EGYPT?
 The UNAIDS Strategy (‘Getting to Zero’) commits to
advancing gender equality for an effective HIV response,
calling for gender-transformative HIV responses that put
gender equality, equity and human rights at its centre.
 The gender assessment in Egypt will connect to the
strategic opportunity of the national programme
assessment and development of a new strategic plan for
HIV before the end of 2014.
4

5. STRATEGIC INFORMATION ON HIV AND GENDER
IN EGYPT: ACHIEVEMENTS
 Some of the prevention initiates under the Global Fund to
fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) include HIV
awareness projects specifically for women and girls. (1)
 The UN Joint Team on AIDS (UNJT) supports an outreach
program for FSWs in Cairo through its local NGO
implementing partner Al Shehab. It provides outreach,
prevention and alternate career services to FSWs. (2)
 UNHCR provides support to local medical NGO partner
Refugee Egypt which offers age and gender-sensitive primary
health care services and HIV/AIDS awareness-raising
activities to refugees and other population groups in
Alexandria and Cairo. (2)
5

6. STRATEGIC INFORMATION ON HIV AND GENDER IN
EGYPT: ACHIEVEMENTS
• The Network of women living with HIV (MENAROSA) has
held support groups for WLHIV. (2)
• The project “Leadership Development Program for WLHIV
in Egypt” includes micro credit loans, training in leadership
and project management skills, and helps WLHIV
establish their own viable business ventures. (2)
• Projects led by civil society organizations include psycho-social
support groups for key populations (MSM, PWID
and FSWs). (2)
6

7. STRATEGIC INFORMATION ON HIV AND GENDER
IN EGYPT: STATUS AT A GLANCE
 The HIV epidemic is concentrated in certain key
populations, including people who inject drugs (7.7% in
Cairo and 6.7% in Alexandria), MSM (5.4% in Cairo and
6.9% in Alexandria) and FSW (0.5%). (2, 3)
 The number of new HIV infections is increasing. In 2013 the
number of confirmed HIV cases almost doubled from the
previous year. (2)
• The percentage of young people who correctly identify
ways to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and who
reject major misconceptions about HIV transmission was
3.1% among females and 16.0% among males in the 15-
19 age group; and 6.4% among females and 21.2% among
males in the 20-24 age group. (2)
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8. STRATEGIC INFORMATION ON HIV AND GENDER IN EGYPT
• Only 10% of sex workers reported the use of a condom
with their most recent client. (4)
• Only 15% of HIV-positive pregnant women received
antiretrovirals to reduce the risk of mother-to-child
transmission. (2)
 Lack of sex- and age- disaggregated data on PWID and
HIV.
 Lack of reporting and data on the linkages between GBV
and HIV.
• Even though studies point out women’s vulnerability to
HIV, a comprehensive understanding of the issues and
their complexity has not yet developed. (5)
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9. THE GENDER ASSESSMENT TEAM
9
NAP Regional
GENDER
ASSESSMEN
T TEAM
Center
for
training
Women
Living
with HIV
Roa’ya
Key
Affected
Populations
representative
Al
Shehab
UN
Women
The
National
Council
for
Women
UNAIDS
UNFPA
The
National
Populatio
n Council

10. THE STANDARDIZED GENDER ASSESMENT TOOL (II)
 Supports countries to position gender equality and violence in
the “strategic investment” discussion.
 The Tool was developed by UNAIDS Secretariat, in close
collaboration with Cosponsors, government, civil society, and
development partners.
 Builds on the experience of piloting the Tool in 5 countries.
 It applies a modular approach, building on already available
information, to allow flexibility as per local context.
 And uses questions to identify remaining gaps in information.
10

11. GENDER ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR NATIONAL HIV
RESPONSES - Overview
STAGE 1: Preparing
for the Gender
Assessment of the
national HIV
response
STAGE 2: Knowing the
national HIV epidemic
and context
STAGE 3: Knowing the
national HIV response
STAGE 4:
Analyzing and
using the findings
of the assessment
for a gender
transformative HIV
response
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12. STAGE 1: PREPARING FOR THE GENDER ASSESMENT
 Secure high level commitment
 Establish a country assessment team
 Develop a gender assessment framework: how will you move
forward? What are the guiding principles? Are roles and
responsibilities clear?
 Collect and compile relevant data and documents
and…
 Read the Gender Assessment Tool: it is very important that all
workshop participants read and understand what the tool is about.
Technical and political understanding of tool is essential for the
UNAIDS Team at country level. It will help facilitate the flow of the
workshop.
12

13. STAGE 2:KNOWING THE NATIONAL HIV EPIDEMIC AND
CONTEXT
Is data available and accessible on:
 HIV and AIDS prevalence and incidence
 Social, cultural and economic factors
 Political and macro economic factors
Is this data readily available for the gender assessment
workshop? Are there any key gaps and ways to
supplement these?
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14. STAGE 3:KNOWING THE NATIONAL HIV RESPONSE
It is key to also assess:
 Meaningful participation
 The overall HIV response
Coordination of gender equality within the HIV
response
 Prevention
 Treatment
Care and Support
 Gender equality in programmes, projects and policies
Women and girls, key populations, masculinities,
gender-based violence
 Expenditure tracking
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15. STAGE 4:ANALYSING AND USING THE FINDINGS OF THE
GENDER ASSESMENT
• Identify the gaps
• Identify the objectives
• Undertake a process of prioritization
• Identify opportunities
• Identify corresponding interventions
Be sure to also develop a communication plan to
disseminate the findings of the gender assessment of the
national HIV response.
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16. PROCESS OF THE GENDER ASSESSMENT
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Development
of
questionnaire
for key
informant
interview
Conference call
with
International
consultant and
the Gender
assessment
team
Desk review and
interviews
Preparation for
the workshop
Workshop
August 20-23
August 24- September 2
August 24– September 7
September 15- إ 16
September 8– 14

17. THE WORKSHOP
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Identify strategic
interventions
Complement
information used to
reply to the Gender
assessment tool
Validate the desk
review
Design strategies
Prepare a report of
the findings and the
strategy
Upon completion of the Gender assessment All relevant
stakeholders will be involved in a 2 day workshop
WORKSHOP
• Address issues and gaps identified by
the Gender assessment
• Inform the move towards gender-transormative
HIV response in the
country.
• To be incorporated into the
National Strategic Plan for
HIV

18. ROLES OF CONSULTANTS AND GENDER ASSESSMNET TEAM
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Activities Leading organisation Date
Establish a Gender Assessment Team RCT, Un Women, UNAIDS 15-Jun
Revision of TOR for the consultant Gender Assessment Team 15th -19th June
Recruitment of consultant RCT, Un Women, UNAIDS 2 weeks (June-July)
Introduction Webinar for the national consultant
and the gender assessment team (2 hours)
International consultant 20 August
Data collection from exsiting literature UNAIDS 24 - 28 August
Development of the guidelines for key informant
National consultants and the Gender
20-26 August
interviews
Assessment Team
key informants interviews
National consultants and the Gender
Assessment Team
27 August- 2 September
Analysis of the qualitative data
National consultants and the Gender
Assessment Team
27 August -8 September
Conducting the desk review International consultant 28 August -7 September
A meeting with Dinys for best practice and
Consultants and the Gender Assessment
preparation for the workshop (roles for the Gender
8 September
Team
Assessment Team)
Preparation for presentations and group work
Consultants and the Gender Assessment
Team
8-14 September
A meeting with Dinys in Cairo
Consultants and the Gender Assessment
Team
14 September
Stakeholder validation workshop (2 or 3 days)
Consultants and the Gender Assessment
Team
15-17 or 15-16 September
A follow-up meeting with Dinys
Consultants and the Gender Assessment
Team
17 or 18 September
Final report , Advocacy brief ( 3 days) International and national consultant 18-21 September
Social media promotion RCT, Un Women, UNAIDS 1 - 20 September

19. Thank you
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