Egypt's HIV epidemic is considered low level, but due to an incomplete surveillance system, a concentrated epidemic may still exist within some vulnerable groups. The current surveillance system does not allow for behavioral surveillance, does not address high-risk populations, and the testing system itself may cause artificially low HIV rate reporting.

By developing a national HIV/AIDS/STI biological and behavioral surveillance system, FHI and its partners aim to improve the data collection process, better define sharing parameters, and support improved openness and transparency. The new national surveillance system will provide better information on the epidemic, improve understanding of both current data and the behavior of people at high risk, and use this understanding to inform program design and implementation.