INTRODUCTION
In response to a need for more gender-transformative HIV responses, UNAIDS developed this Gender Assessment Tool (GAT) with a series of steps guiding users on how to address this gap. This toolkit, which includes a four-step process with guiding questions, aims to support developers and reviewers of national strategic plans, grant writers, national authorities, and civil society organisations to incorporate a gendered lens in HIV response efforts.
The four stages of the gender assessment process
A plan should be established including a gender assessment team, framework, and plan, with committed and multidisciplinary stakeholders. Then, the HIV epidemic context should be investigated with gender disaggregated data over time, and an insight to how gender inequality links with other inequalities in the region. Next, the national HIV response should be analysed to see whether gender equality is addressed in relevant policies, programmes, and budget allocations across all stages of the HIV response. Finally, these gender assessment results should be compiled to formulate gender-transformative HIV response-based plans.
The GAT enables users to learn the extent to which the national response recognises gender inequality as a key determinant of the trajectory of the HIV epidemic and then acts based on that recognition. This will help to ensure that the national HIV response has gender equality as a goal.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Efforts to combat HIV must be gender-transformative to address inequalities faced by women and girls in HIV responses and outcomes
The four-step process includes: 1) establishing a strong, knowledgeable, and multidisciplinary team attuned to the need for a gender assessment, 2) gaining a contextual knowledge of the HIV epidemic, 3) understanding the current response, and 4) assessing this information through a gender-transformative lens in order to drive equitable responses.
Gender transformative approaches must be multi-level
Gender transformative approaches should affect the following levels: basic programme activities, critical enablers, and development synergy.
Gender transformative approaches should be guided by UNAIDS Strategy 2016-2021
The eight areas of results of the UNAIDS Strategy 2016-2021 should also guide the formation of gender-transformative transformations.
Download the 2018 toolkit here as well as the updated 2025 toolkit here.
Suggested citation: UNAIDS. UNAIDS Gender Assessment Tool: Towards a gender-transformative HIV response : UNU-IIGH, 2026.
