AIDSTAR-Two Project Trip Report – Lebanon

The project began working with several groups and organizations of PLHIV in Algeria, Lebanon, and Tunisia between October and December 2012. These initial partnerships included two components: organizational and technical support, and small grants to implement pilot activities. In January 2013, the MENA Project conducted an exploratory mission to Morocco to assess the involvement, care, and support for PLHIV in the country using a participatory methodology with several PLHIV groups and organizations. The project organized a regional workshop for the new PLHIV partners in June 2013, which brought together approximately 20 participants from Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Lebanon. The workshop facilitated the exchange of experiences, promoted horizontal learning, and strengthened links between PLHIV groups through a participatory review of the process, achievements, results, lessons learned, and next steps. During the workshop, participants presented their work in their respective countries, including draft IEC tools and materials that they had elaborated and tested with the support of the MENA Project. The Moroccan participants presented the work of their own organizations and the challenges and opportunities regarding PLHIV involvement and support in Morocco. The participants conducted a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis on stigma and discrimination, ARV access, and adherence in their respective countries. They also brainstormed about their priorities for the next phase of the MENA Project, with each team prioritizing specific activities, including developing a practical guide on the well-being of PLHIV, training healthcare providers to reduce stigma, and mobilizing and training a team of PLHIV social and health workers. The MENA Project's regional workshop was co-facilitated by Juan Jacobo Hernandez, an international consultant who provided tailored technical and organizational support to the participating groups, and Nadia Badran from SIDC (translation French-Arabic). SIDC and Vivre Positif were in charge of the logistical organization. The workshop was productive and positively evaluated by participants, with most participants having never conducted a similar exercise before. The follow-up meetings with each group evidenced that these partners will need further guidance and support to formulate, plan, and cost their next action plan. Local training and planning workshops will be necessary during the transition phase to ensure the successful implementation of the next phase of the MENA Project. The MENA Project's objectives include promoting the involvement, care, and support for PLHIV in the region, reducing stigma and discrimination, and improving access to ARV treatment and adherence. The project's activities focus on organizational and technical support, small grants, and capacity building for PLHIV groups and organizations. The project's geographic focus is on the Middle East and North Africa region, with a specific emphasis on Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Morocco. The project's timeframes are not specified, but it is clear that the project is ongoing and will continue to support the involvement, care, and support for PLHIV in the region.