Deadline: 15-Aug-2025
Unitaid has announced a new Call for Proposals aimed at supporting the cost-effective and impactful rollout of lenacapavir for HIV prevention in sub-Saharan African countries. This initiative targets the introduction and scaling of lenacapavir as part of broader HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options to reach populations at high risk in areas with high HIV transmission rates.
Proposals must come from countries with active plans to introduce lenacapavir and must include documentation of government support for its rollout in the near future. Projects should aim for measurable impact at the national or subnational level within a three-year period, focusing on reaching a significant number of high-risk individuals rather than small-scale pilots. Clear justification of the proposed scale and number of individuals to be reached is essential, along with specific plans for lenacapavir supply.
Strong community engagement is required at every stage of project design and implementation. Unitaid encourages approaches that go beyond facility-based services, integrating community-based and decentralized models to reflect the preferences and expertise of affected communities and support treatment literacy and demand generation.
Proposals should include practical delivery approaches that optimize cost and impact, reach underserved high-risk populations, align with national rollout plans, and demonstrate impact through effective tracking systems. Lenacapavir should be integrated within a broader PrEP strategy and, where relevant, other services for the same population.
Applicants must generate evidence of cost-effectiveness and health impact, using real-time costing data and modeling outcomes based on the local context. Continuous engagement with countries and communities is required to ensure alignment, adoption, and eventual integration into national programs.
Eligible applicants must be based in and implement projects within the targeted sub-Saharan African country. Unitaid prioritizes locally-led projects by South-based organizations. Proposals must be targeted and focused, reaching underserved populations with high HIV incidence, while complementing national and international strategies.
Key requirements include the ability to begin implementation promptly, employ innovative and community-driven delivery approaches, demonstrate cost-effectiveness and scalability, and show clear pathways to reducing HIV transmission with measurable results.
For more information, visit Unitaid.
