PREPARING FOR A GENDER ASSESSMENT OF THE NATIONAL HIV and TB RESPONSE

1. PREPARING FOR A GENDER ASSESSMENT OF THE NATIONAL HIV and TB RESPONSE

2. WHY A GENDER ASSESMENT ? • National strategic planning and budgeting processes often lack essential information on HIV and TB epidemic, context and response from a gender perspective • The UNAIDS HIV Gender Assessment tool was developed recognizing the need for more systematic data collection on gender equality and HIV. • Recognising the need for a similar tool for TB responses, the Stop TB Partnership and UNAIDS Secretariat established a partnership to develop the Gender assessment tool for national HIV and TB responses (hereinafter the HIV/TB Gender Assessment tool)

3. Overview • HIV and TB poses a significant public health and development burden. • TB remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, with an estimated 360 000 [310 000–410 000] deaths in 2013 • An estimated 1.1 million (13%) of the 8.6 million with TB were HIV positive. • People living with HIV are around 30 times more likely to develop TB than persons without HIV. .

4. STAGE 1: Preparing for the Gender Assessment of the national HIV and TB response GENDER ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR NATIONAL HIV and TB RESPONSES - overview STAGE 2: Knowing the national HIV and TB epidemic and context STAGE 3: Knowing the national HIV and TB response and identifying gaps STAGE 4: Analyzing the findings of the assessment and identifying interventions for a gender transformative HIV and TB response

5. THE STANDARDIZED GENDER ASSESMENT TOOL • Aims to standardize the different tools used across countries and regions and the quality of data produced, to inform the national strategic planning process • Supports countries to do a systematic assessment from a gender perspective to inform national planning and budgeting for gender-responsive TB and gender-transformative HIV responses, including joint applications for the Global Fund New Funding Model. • The HIV/TB Gender Assessment Tool was developed by UNAIDS Secretariat and STOP TB and GFATM, in collaboration with WHO, and civil society and TB experts. • The HIV/TB Tool builds on the UNAIDS Gender Assessment Tool that was piloted in 5 countries and have now been completed in close to 30 countries.

6. THE STANDARDIZED GENDER ASSESMENT TOOL (II) • The HIV/TB Gender Assessment Tool will be further informed by this workshop and the implementation in Lesotho shortly • The Tool 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

7. Enhancing national processes through the use of the Gender Assessment Tool • In undertaking gender assessments, it is key to connect and build on national processes. • Key questions before decision making: • Will a new HIV and/or TB NSP be developed soon? • Will the current HIV and/or TBNSP be reviewed soon? • Is there an opportunity to submit a concept note to the Global Fund? • Are there other key strategic national opportunities?

8. STAGE 1: PREPARING FOR THE HIV/TB GENDER ASSESMENT • Secure high level commitment • Set up a country assessment team establishing national ownership and ensuring representation of those affected by TB and HIV • Develop a gender assessment framework: how will you move forward? What are the guiding principles? Are roles and responsibilities clear? • Develop a resource plan for the gender assessment • Collect and compile relevant data and documents • Organize a gender assessment workshop with relevant stakeholders • and… • Read the HIV/TB Gender Assessment Tool: it is very important that all workshop participants read and understand what the tool is about. Technical and political understanding of the tool is essential for the Team at country level. It will help facilitate the flow of the workshop.

9. STAGE 2: KNOWING THE NATIONAL HIV and TB EPIDEMIC AND ITS SURRONDING CONTEXT • Is data available and accessible on: • HIV and TB prevalence, by sex, age and geographic area • Prevalence of co infection by sex, age and geographic area • Social, cultural and economic factors • Legal and political factors • Has the data available been populated in the tool for the gender assessment workshop? Are there any key gaps and ways to supplement these? • Review and analysis of the data gathered in each step

10. STAGE 3: KNOWING THE NATIONAL HIV and TB RESPONSE • Gender equality in HIV, TB policies policies and programmes: overall HIV response, meaningful participation, coordination of gender equality within the HIV and TB response & in the conceptual framework and design, awareness and knowledge, assessing expenditure allocation. • Comprehensive HIV and TB response: • - prevention, treatment, care and support, GBV • Gender considerations per community: • - women and girls, men and boys, key populations, young people, elderly /senior citizens • Review and analysis after each step

11. STAGE 4: ANALYSING AND USING THE FINDINGS OF THE HIV/TB GENDER ASSESMENT • Using the analysis from previous stages to populate an Analysis Matrix with data, context, current policy and programming response • Review the key issues • Identify priority interventions and populate the matrix with Key interventions • Develop a brief and succinct narrative report • Develop: • an advocacy plan • a communications strategy • a budget • a fundraising strategy • a monitoring process

12. Overall process: From gaps and challenges to key interventions for a gender transformative national HIV response and a gender responsive TB response What is currently being done within the HIV and TB response to include gender transformative actions to decrease the epidemic and modify the context? What are the main gaps and challenges concerning gender? What are the key gender-based interventions which will have the highest impact on the HIV and TB epidemic? What is the reality of the HIV and TB epidemics with a gender perspective? What are the issues linked to gender driving the epidemics?

13. Thank you