On April 16, 2026, EMPHNET convened a virtual meeting as the Principal Recipient (PR) of the multi-country MENA III (MCMENA III) HIV grant, bringing together the Global Fund Country Team, Sub-Recipients (SRs), and partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM). 

The meeting comes at a critical stage, as countries transition from planning to implementation and face the need to accelerate progress, strengthen coordination, and ensure early results. It provided a timely platform to review early progress, address emerging bottlenecks, and align on priorities to accelerate implementation across Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. 

Read more about the MCMENA III grant launch event here.  

A Regional Effort to Strengthen HIV Prevention and Testing 

The multi-country grant supports the implementation of sustainable, inclusive, and effective HIV prevention and testing programs for key populations (KPs) across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).  

Funded by the Global Fund, the grant focuses on: 

• Strengthening sustainable financing for HIV programs 

• Expanding inclusive HIV prevention and testing services  

• Supporting community-led responses and civil society organizations  

• Addressing structural and human rights-related barriers affecting access to services  

Through this approach, the grant aims to reduce HIV incidence while strengthening a sustainable, locally driven HIV response across the region.

From Progress Review to Implementation Acceleration  

During the meeting, SRs and partners shared updates on early implementation progress, including preparatory work and early rollout of activities at country level. 

Discussions highlighted both encouraging progress and the diversity of national contexts, reflecting the need for flexible, context-responsive approaches. Importantly, the meeting enabled a shift from progress review toward a more action-oriented phase of implementation. 

Key Outcomes Guiding the Next Phase 

The meeting resulted in a set of outcomes that will guide implementation moving forward: 

• A shared understanding of implementation progress across all SRs, including preparatory work, early rollout achievements, and country-specific contexts. 

• Validation of progress and identification of priority areas requiring acceleration.  

• Strengthened coordination at regional and national levels among the PR, SRs, Global Fund teams, and key partners, including UNDP and IOM.  

• Recognition of contextual challenges, including evolving regional dynamics and shifting national priorities. 

• Agreement on adaptive management approaches, including flexible planning, remote implementation modalities, and continuous monitoring. 

• Preliminary consensus on the direction of regional activities to maximize the added value of the multi-country grant. 

• Reinforced collective commitment to accelerate implementation, improve coordination, and strengthen sustainability through resource mobilization and social contracting.  

These outcomes will inform the next phase of implementation and support HIV service delivery across the region. 

Partnerships Driving the HIV Response Forward 

The multi-country grant brings together governments, civil society organizations, and regional and international partners in a coordinated effort to strengthen the HIV response. 

SRs across the five countries play a central role in implementation.  Their work, supported by regional networks and technical partners, is critical to ensuring that interventions effectively reach key populations. 

As PR, EMPHNET continues to play a central role in coordinating partners, aligning implementation across countries, and supporting collective progress toward shared regional goals. 

Moving Forward 

As implementation progresses, the focus remains on accelerating delivery, strengthening coordination, and ensuring that planned activities translate into tangible results for key populations. 

EMPHNET also hosted a webinar as part of its WEBi Series, titled “Sustaining HIV Impact in MENA: Community Coalitions, Regional Coordination, and Leadership,” bringing together regional stakeholders to explore approaches for strengthening coordination and sustaining HIV impact across the region. Read about it here.