Deadline: 15-Jul-25
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is now accepting proposals for innovative, youth-centered initiatives that support the health, rights & empowerment of MSM youth in underserved areas.
Goal
- This call aims to:
- Provide financial and technical support to community experts from CBOs to implement innovative, effective, and age-appropriate initiatives that improve the overall health (physical, mental, sexual), welfare, and empowerment of MSM youth in the Central provinces.
- Increase the meaningful participation of MSM youth in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs related to sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, mental health, life skills, and anti-stigma and discrimination.
- Contribute to building a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for MSM youth to develop their full potential at home, school, and within their community.
- Empower community professionals from CBOs to work effectively with MSM youth.
Priority Areas
- UNFPA encourages innovative, youth-focused proposals that address the specific needs of MSM youth, including but not limited to:
- Education and Behavioral Change Communication:
- Improving knowledge, attitudes, and practices on comprehensive sexual and reproductive health, gender and gender identity, safe sex, and HIV/STIs prevention (including PrEP/PEP).
- Developing essential life skills (communication, decision-making, coping with stress, building healthy relationships).
- Enhanced Access to Friendly Services:
- Connecting MSM youth to quality, confidential, and stigma-free health services (HIV testing, ARV treatment, PrEP, STIs treatment, mental health counseling and support).
- Developing and operating accessible models of information, counseling, and support (including online and in-person) for MSM youth.
- Reducing Stigma and Discrimination, Building a Supportive Environment:
- Activities to raise awareness and change attitudes of families, teachers, service providers, and the community at large about MSM youth.
- Creating and maintaining safe spaces (both physical and online) for MSM youth to share, learn, and connect.
- Mental and Psychosocial Health Support:
- Prevention, early detection, and support interventions for common mental health problems among adolescents with MSM (anxiety, depression, stigma-induced stress).
- Building peer support networks.
- Application of Technology and Innovation
- Using digital platforms, social media, and mobile apps to access, inform, educate, and support MSM youth in a creative and engaging way.
- Empowering and Raising Voices for MSM Youth:
- Training in leadership skills, policy advocacy, and communication for MSM youth so they can confidently participate and contribute.
- Education and Behavioral Change Communication:
Funding Information
- Funding Package Value: Maximum 25,000,000 (Twenty-five million VND) for each selected initiative.
Duration
- Project Implementation Time: From August 2025 to the end of November 2025 (maximum 5 months).
Geographical Scope
- Initiatives should target provinces in the Central region of Vietnam, such as Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, and Binh Thuan.
Eligibility Criteria
- Community experts from CBOs are invited to apply if they are currently working or plan to work directly with young men who have sex with men (MSM), aged 16-30 (UNFPA’s appropriate age consideration), in the central provinces of Viet Nam. High priority will be given to community professionals from CBOs led by MSM youth themselves, or those with active and meaningful participation of MSM youth in all phases of the project.
- Note: While they welcome applications from multiple experts within the same CBO, a maximum of two experts per CBO will be accepted. Applications from a single CBO with more than two experts will not be eligible. Each expert can only submit one initiative.
For more information, visit UNFPA.