which comprised 7 SW and several organizational representatives. The MSM CAB comprised representatives of organizations and LGBT associations, community leaders, and 14 MSM. For validation and monitoring of the project, a Scientific Commission (SC) was constituted with several specialists and experts with long experience in research and intervention, such as academics in the areas of epidemiology, public health, and social sciences, professionals from diverse health institutions and NGOs working with SW and MSM populations, and representatives of policy-making institutions.

The formation of both these structures (the CABs and the SC) was the base for building a partnership with all stakeholders. After establishing the partnership, CABs meetings were held for deep discussions between partners on the overall purpose and strategies of the project, in order to achieve meaningful consensus ofSW civil society was not organized nor was easily recognizable, and therefore greater efforts were demanded to reach and involve this community in the project. From the beginning, the NGO promoter of the project acted as mediator between the project and the SW community until the "trust point" was achieved. This articulation was less complex with the MSM community. Additionally, based on the professional links with policy-makers and health professionals, the initial promoters of the project invited representatives of these stakeholders to the partnership. Building this comprehensive partnership helped create a setting conducive to making new links, connections, and exchanges between partners, especially reducing the gap between policy-makers and communities.

Overall, this first phase was essential to render the context more favourable and open to the project. At the