Community Engagement Strategic Initiative – Egypt (2024)
Strengthening community participation in Egypt’s Global Fund HIV/TB Grant (GC7)

1. Background

HIV epidemic snapshot in Egypt:
– +609% increase in new HIV infections (2010–2023)
– Concentrated among key populations (KPs): People Who Inject Drugs (PWID), Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), Female Sex Workers (FSW), People Living with HIV (PLHIV), Migrants.
– Barriers: stigma, discrimination, criminalization.
– Egypt = only MENA country in the Global HIV Prevention Coalition.

Goal: Ensure community voices shape the GC7 funding request.

2. How the Technical Assistance Worked

Delivered in Two Phases:

Phase 1 (June–July 2024)
– Identified service gaps & priorities
– Conducted 13 FGDs (96 participants) + 7 key interviews
– Produced Community Priorities Annex for GC7

Phase 2 (Dec 2024)
– Captured lessons from GC6
– Developed costing tool for CSOs
– Workshop with national stakeholders in Cairo

3. Key Achievements

Community Engagement
– Broad, inclusive consultations
– Safe spaces for open dialogue
– Community priorities formally integrated in GC7

Empowering Civil Society
– Better understanding of Global Fund mechanisms
– Training on budgeting & costing tools
– Stronger advocacy & negotiation capacity

Collaboration
– Brought together NAP, UNAIDS, UNDP, WHO, CSOs & CBOs
– Civil society and community presented priorities during Geneva negotiations

4. Community Priority Interventions Integrated in GC7

– Enhanced quality harm reduction & outreach

– Harm reduction packages for KPs including male condoms and lubricants and syringes (PWUD)
– HIV self-testing for all KPs
– Integrated SRH & HIV services at CSOs
– PrEP pilot for MSM & sex workers

– Gender assessment
– Support groups for MSM and PWUD, including support groups for women who use drugs[Ma1] 

– “Know Your Rights” sessions for KPs and PLHIV networks to raise peer awareness.

! Integration of transgender community within outreach program targets

! Community distribution of naloxone will be provided by MoPH

! Prevention package for PWUD includes referral to OAT program

9 out of 20 CSO priorities included in final revised program budget

11 out of 20 CSO priorities covered through GF grant and MoPH

5. Lessons Learned

– Dedicated TA funding = inclusive, structured consultations
– Multi-phase TA builds trust & sustainability
– Diverse voices = richer priorities
– Skilled facilitation ensures safe, open dialogue
– The Community Priorities Annex model strengthens community participation and engagement

6. Recommendations

– Broaden and diversify community consultations
– Ensure meaningful participation in all grant stages
– Plan TA timelines for wider participation
– Include gender-inclusive & hybrid models
– Continue engagement post-grant approval

7. Conclusion

The TA created a new model for community engagement in Egypt:
– Amplified community voices.
– Strengthened collaboration between CSOs & national programs.
– Influenced GC7 design & negotiations.
– Built lasting capacity for inclusive, community-led responses.

 [Ma1]Waiting on confirmation from the PR in Egypt on the full list.

After that we can add an attractive number something like 8/20 priorities were included