Asia Pacific Rainbow Grant Program “Reducing Stigma & Improving Equity”

Deadline: 28-Jul-23

Gilead Sciences is inviting applications for the Asia Pacific Rainbow Grant Program that will focus on “Reducing Stigma & Improving Equity”.

Through the grant program, Gilead seeks to support projects that place people right at the heart of care.

Goals

• Engage: Their grant program aims to engage communities on quality-of-life topics for PLHIV and persons-at-risk, ultimately resulting in societies that are free of judgment and stigma.
• Empower: Their grant program aims to empower PLHIV and persons-at-risk to achieve the best quality of life possible. They also empower community-based organizations to step up their skills and capabilities.
• Partner: Partnerships and alliances among communities, NGOs, governments and businesses are important as they work on HIV programs that help people with HIV and persons-at-risk live long and healthy lives.

Focus Area

• Under the overarching theme of “Reducing Stigma & Improving Equity”, there are three focus areas of projects that they hope to support in 2023.
  • Focus 1: Addressing HIV-related social determinants of health that impact at-risk populations
    • Stigma drives discrimination and inequity across sectors of society, including in health care, education, workplace, and justice systems, as well as within families and communities. By deepening their understanding and approaches to addressing intersectional socio-structural factors that impact HIV-related stigma and inequity, they can better understand and attend to the many dimensions, such as strengthening communities, peer-to-peer education and capacity building, harm reduction and HIV prevention, that may contribute to or help ameliorate the impact of HIV stigma on PLHIV and individuals at-risk to greatly improve the health and well-being of the population facing HIV-related stigma.
  • Focus 2: Integrating mental wellness in HIV care & stigma
    • Stigma is a social phenomenon known to have a negative impact on the lives of PLHIV, so much so that HIV has been characterized as a traumatic experience for PLHIV. Many experience stigma which can cause negative mental health disorders and experiences, including emotional distress, shame, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. The anticipation of prejudice and discrimination creates social anxiety in PLHIV, in turn aggravating negative beliefs, views and feelings of oneself as it relates to an individual’s HIV-positive status. A people-centered approach to integrating mental wellness into HIV care can alleviate internalized stigma and enhance coping strategies, improving compliance and adherence to treatment for PLHIV.
  • Focus 3:  Uplifting populations “being left behind”
    • People who are at risk of contracting HIV comprises a highly diverse and heterogeneous community. This risk may propagate to general populations via so-called bridging groups, depending on the extent and nature of social linkages and networks between these populations. The same HIV-related stigma and inequity that are barriers to better-served key populations are more pronounced for those underserved communities that have less access to comprehensive services or limited health coverage. Examples of those groups include young people, women, migrants, displaced populations and the vulnerable.

Duration: All projects that receive grant funding must be completed before 30 Mar 2025.

Use of Grant Funds

• Gilead funding may not be used to pay for or offset the cost of:
  • Medications or purchase of medications
  • Direct medical expenses, including labs
  • Existing deficits or debts
  • Basic biomedical research, clinical research or clinical trials
  • Projects that directly influence or advance Gilead’s business including purchase, utilization, prescribing, formulary position, pricing, reimbursement, referral, recommendation or payment for products
  • Individuals, individual health care providers or physician group practices
  • Events or programs that have already occurred
  • Government lobbying activities
• Funding will not be provided to organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

Eligibility Criteria

• Nonprofit status: Organization will be asked to provide documentation or any valid proof to verify its legal entity status.
• Must be established for at least two years upon the time of the grant application.
• Have a strong track record of sound financial stewardship and ability to deliver impactful programming.
• Have strong commitment to good corporate governance, compliance, and ethics.
• Demonstrate understanding of HIV and affected communities.
• Have a strong network, partnership capacity, and ability to collaborate effectively.
• Grantees must be in at least one of the following territories: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

For more information, visit Asia Pacific Rainbow Grant Program.