Morocco

Key Results in 2022-2023

Over 300 000 people, primarily from key populations, accessed combination HIV prevention services.
Improved access to HIV services as a result of innovative service delivery methods, including HIV self-testing, index testing, multi-disease campaigns and multimonth ART dispensing.
Strategic evidence for the HIV response was strengthened with the completion of various critical studies, including Stigma Index 2.0 and IBBS among key populations.
Supported development of the Integrated Strategic Plan to fight against VIH, STIs, Viral Hepatitis 2024-2030, as well as the National Strategy on Human Rights and HIV, and Tuberculosis.
Technical support and guidance on prioritization strengthened Morocco’s efforts to successfully mobilize over EUR 21 million from the Global Fund for its national HIV and TB response in 2024-2027.

Joint Programme Results

The Joint Programme in Morocco made important contributions in scaling up access to HIV services among key populations, strengthening coordination with partners and mobilizing external resources for the national response. Moreover, following sustained advocacy and technical support provided by the Joint Programme, the city of Essaouira joined the Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities Ending the HIV Epidemic in 2022 (UNAIDS Secretariat).

The 2022 Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) survey among female sex workers, gay men and other men who have sex with men, migrants, people who inject drugs and transgender persons revealed high HIV prevalence in certain settings and geographical locations, and results were used to guide programming among key populations (UNHCR, UNAIDS Secretariat, IOM). During the 2022-2023 biennium, more than 300 0000 people, mainly from key populations, accessed combination HIV prevention services. Existing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services were evaluated, and new guidelines finalized to scale up PrEP services across the country. In addition, HIV testing and counselling services expanded among key populations and men through innovative and diversified strategies, including multi-diseases campaigns, community-based testing, self-testing and index testing (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat).

Differentiated service delivery approaches for HIV testing and treatment services and multimonth dispensing (MMD) of antiretroviral treatment benefitted vulnerable and key populations, including people living with HIV—MMD is currently available in 96% of antiretroviral treatment dispensing practices (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat). In addition, asylum seekers and refugees living with HIV accessed treatment services in public healthcare facilities and centers run by civil society organizations, thanks to the Joint Programme’s financial support (UNHCR).

HIV incidence per 1000 uninfected populations

Source: AIDSinfo

AIDS mortality per 1000 population

Source: AIDSinfo

Progress towards 95-95-95 targets

Source: AIDSinfo

Morocco is preparing the validation process of the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Evidence for paediatric HIV programmes was strengthened through data collection and analysis on paediatric HIV testing, treatment and prevention of vertical transmission of HIV services (UNAIDS Secretariat). In addition, 20 health-care professionals improved their capacity for delivering paediatric HIV services through Joint Programme-supported trainings (WHO).

A new sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and human rights unit model has been developed to further guide primary healthcare facilities and community structures in preventing and addressing stigma and discrimination. Led by the Ministry of Health, the Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+) and the national network of people living with HIV, and with significant support from the Joint Programme, the Stigma Index 2.0 was implemented in nine cities and generated essential evidence on HIV-related stigma and discrimination in Morocco. Besides, a community-led monitoring system was developed to track stigma and human rights violations against people living with HIV and key populations and more than 20 community workers improved their skills in using this system to record data on the District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2) (UNAIDS Secretariat).

Expansion of social protection mechanisms for key populations has been reinforced through strategic evidence on the medical insurance and social protection coverage of people living with HIV and people from key populations (UNICEF, WFP, UNAIDS Secretariat), the analysis of food and nutritional security among people living with HIV, and the analysis of service integration for key populations in public health centre service packages (WFP, UNAIDS Secretariat).

Implementation of social contracting in Morocco is underway, thanks to sustained financial and technical support from the Joint Programme. Key contributions included preliminary studies on the cost of community-led HIV services; guidelines, mechanisms, and financing of a transition plan for the establishment of social contracting; trainings on return-on-investment (ROI); and implementation of a pilot training programme on social contracting for NGOs (UNDP). Finally, EUR 21 million was mobilized from the Global Fund Grant Cycle 7 for the national HIV and tuberculosis response in 2024-2027, thanks to the technical support from the Joint Programme (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat).