How to make friends and influence people: tracking the impact of the ‘Framework for women, girls and gender equality in national strategic plans in southern and eastern Africa’
The Framework for Women, Girls, and Gender Equality in National Strategic Plans on HIV and AIDS in Southern and Eastern Africa (the Framework) was developed by the ATHENA Network and the Gender Equality and HIV Prevention Programme at HEARD in collaboration with 19 organisations and networks working to advance gender equality and women’s rights in the context of HIV. Results from multi-country and in-country work illustrated that while the different countries involved differ in the type of epidemic they experience, and the stage of their response, some of the results that have been catalyzed across participating countries include: identifying gaps and priorities in national policies plans on HIV and AIDS; strengthening language around gender equality and gender-based violence integrated into national policies, including accountability structures; promoting increased engagement and leadership of women living with HIV and other key affected women; empowering the grassroots; catalsing for the engagement of men and boys as agents to halt gender-based violence and advance gender equality.; and finally, encouraging partnership and cooperation between NAC and civil society. Collectively these processes have brought together key stakeholders across the HIV response, strengthened the engagement of those most affected by HIV in policy analysis and settings, and generated a broad global audience for the tools and products than that originally conceived.
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