Reflecting on the progress of projects for men who have sex with men in North Africa and the Near East

27 October 2006

Now that HIV and sexually transmitted infection projects for men who have sex with men (MSM) have started in all four countries of the Alliance’s North Africa and Near East regional programme (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Lebanon), a regional five-day workshop is being held for partners to meet and reflect on their plans and progress and to foster inter-regional sharing and learning on MSM issues. MSM organisations from West Africa will also be attending the workshop, along with other Alliance partners implementing programmes for men who have sex with men. The workshop is taking place in Rabat, Morocco, from 30 October to 4 November.

Specifically, the workshop aims to:

  • review the successes and difficulties met when implementing sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV prevention interventions focused on MSM
  • build a common understanding of the key STI/HIV prevention activities for MSM programming in the region, including
    • Participatory community assessments
    • Peer education and outreach work
    • STI/HIV prevention focused materials development, such as leaflets, flyers, posters, videos, magazines, and websites
    • Condom distribution
    • Lubricant distribution
    • STI/HIV testing and treatment referrals
    • Prevention and support
  • plan focused prevention activities integrating lessons learnt during the workshop
  • identify regional strategies improving STI/HIV prevention work for MSM.

It is hoped that the workshop will identify good practice in focused HIV prevention with MSM appropriate to the Maghreb and Near East context, so this can be integrated at country level. The workshop will also reinforce links between the teams involved in the projects in the four countries and with others involved in MSM programming.

The Alliance will be producing a workshop report that will be available in November, and a small regional guide on good practice for working with MSM in the region.

Background

The Alliance’s North Africa and Near East Regional Programme (NAR) is a regional STI/HIV programme that aims to respond to the sexual health needs of gay men and other men who have sex with men in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Lebanon. The Alliance implements this programme through six organisations who are involved in HIV/AIDS programmes and in supporting vulnerable and stigmatised populations in their respective countries:

  • Association de lutte contre le SIDA (ALCS) in Morocco
  • Association Marocaine de Solidarité et Développement (AMSED) in Morocco
  • Soins Infirmiers et Développement Communautaire in Lebanon
  • Helem in Lebanon
  • Association Tunisienne de Lutte contre les IST/VIH in Tunisia
  • Association de Protection Contre le Sida in Algeria

The regional programme consists of country projects and regional interventions, including a regional technical support plan for local partners.

The first Alliance MSM country project started in Lebanon in September 2005, and the most recent in Algeria in June 2006.