Addressing Harmful Gender Norms to Improve Health: Strengthening Local Capacity in Male Engagement & HIV Prevention

Purpose: To share lessons learned from the PEPFAR Male Gender Norms Initiative on strengthening the capacity of in-country partners to integrate male engagement in HIV and AIDS programming.

Design/Methods: EngenderHealth, using global expertise, explored three approaches for building the capacity of in-country partners to address masculinities in HIV programming. Technical assistance (TA) was provided to four priority countries (Ethiopia, Namibia, Tanzania and Mozambique) and included needs assessments, program design, strategic planning, tailored trainings, and facilitating the creation of advocacy networks. Process evaluations were conducted with key stakeholders at end of the project.

Results: Over 600 partner staff, representing government, military, religious groups and community groups, received training and 40 diverse organizations received ongoing TA for integrating male engagement (ME) strategies. Examples of integration include: Social Marketing Association Namibia incorporated gender activities into a HIV training curricula for the military and Forum Mulher initiated a Men as Partners program in Mozambique. Other outputs include the adaptation of ME resources; the development of ME-focused HIV prevention materials; and the establishment of formal national advocacy networks for engaging men, spearheaded by EngenderHealth and Promundo.

Recommendations: Rigid constructs of gender roles play a critical role in increasing a person's vulnerability to HIV and AIDS. Country missions and ministries must be engaged and supportive in creating sustainable gender transformative HIV programs. Evaluation results maintain the need for strong advocacy efforts at the government level. Tailored interventions are necessary in order to effectively address harmful gender norms and improve health outcomes in each country.