Deadline: 19-Jan-23
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications from qualified entities to implement the Strengthen Sustainable HIV Prevention and Impact Mitigation Services for Vulnerable Children and Youth in Eswatini activity.
Purpose
- The purpose of the activity titled “Strengthen sustainable HIV prevention and impact mitigation services for vulnerable children and youth in Eswatini” is to contribute to sustaining the achievements of the country in reaching epidemic control of HIV by averting new infections among adolescent girls and young women and improve resilience and treatment outcomes for children and adolescents living with HIV by increasing access to sustainable services. The activity will also strengthen the capacity of local partners and government structures to provide effective HIV and GBV prevention and response services.
Objective
- The goal of the activity is to avert new HIV infections in children and youth and improve treatment outcomes for children and adolescents living with HIV by increasing access to sustainable comprehensive HIV prevention and impact mitigation services and strengthening resilience in vulnerable children, adolescents and youth in Eswatini.
Funding Information
- USAID intends to award one Cooperative Agreement with renewal periods pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity. Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide an estimated $14,500,000.00 in USAID funding for the initial 3-year base period. The total estimated amount of funding for the base period and two potential one year renewal periods is $34,000,000.00.
- The anticipated period of performance of this award is up to five (5) years, with an initial period of performance of three (3) years and two-one (1) year renewal periods awarded dependent upon Recipient performance, availability of funding, and USAID needs.
Intermediate Results
The Activity has four Intermediate Results (IRs):
- IR 1: Increased wellbeing of vulnerable children and their families to ensure children are healthy, safe, stable, and schooled
- Expected Results
- Strengthened access to social, health, education and protection services for vulnerable children and their families
- Improved identification, retention, and viral suppression of C/ALHIV
- IR 2: Increased resilience to HIV risks among AGYW
- Expected Results
- Increased social assets among vulnerable children, adolescents and youth
- Improved livelihoods among AGYW
- Increased demand for high impact HIV, GBV and SRH services among AGYW
- Increased uptake of high impact clinical HIV, GBV and SRH services to AGYW
- IR 3: Strengthened GBV/VAC prevention and response for AGYW and OVC
- Expected Results
- Increased access to community and school-based HIV and violence prevention interventions for AG and AB
- Increased access to clinical, social, and legal post-violence care services for OVC and AGYW
- Increased capacity of communities to address harmful social and gender norms affecting HIV risk among children and AGYW
- Improved capacity of GOKS to lead, coordinate and monitor VAC and GBV prevention and response activities
- IR 4: Strengthened sustainability of services for vulnerable children, adolescents and youth
- Expected Results
- Strengthened capacity of USAID partners to manage OVC/DREAMS programs
- Strengthened economic opportunities for AGYW through partnerships with private sector and public entities
- Increased capacity of schools to provide and coordinate HIV and VAC prevention and response services
Target Population
- The Implementation of the activity should focus on the beneficiary populations listed below in their respective geographic areas. It should be noted that these categories of populations frequently overlap. Adolescent girls aged 10-17 in the OVC program who meet DREAMS vulnerability and risk criteria should be encouraged to enroll also in the DREAMS program, and adolescent girls in the DREAMS program meeting core vulnerability criteria of the OVC program should be referred for OVC enrolment.
- Vulnerable children aged 0-17 with known risks, including, but not limited to:
- Children and adolescents living with HIV
- HIV-exposed infants
- Children and adolescents living with a caregiver living with HIV, especially those who are not virally suppressed
- Children who are orphaned due to HIV or COVID
- Children who have experienced sexual and other abuse
- Children of female sex workers
- Adolescent girls who are pregnant or are mothers
- Children in child-headed households
- Children with disabilities
- Girls and boys aged 10-14 years in high-prevalence areas (sexual violence and HIV prevention)
- AGYW 10-29 years old at risk of HIV and/or violence
- Adolescent boys and young men,
Geographical Focus
- The geographic focus for this activity is Eswatini. Geographic coverage should be assessed on an annual basis considering available resources, program achievements, updated epidemiological data, GoKE priorities, and alignment with other donor investments. For the DREAMS components, PEPFAR aims to achieve saturation, defined as 75% of eligible age groups having completed the DREAMS primary package and any needed secondary services. In districts that have achieved saturation, a DREAMS maintenance package should be delivered.
Eligibility Criteria
- This opportunity is restricted to local and regional organizations. To be considered a local or regional organization, the applicant must demonstrate that they meet the criteria.
- Local refers to the Kingdom of Eswatini. Regional is defined by USAID Southern Africa as: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Organizations refers to entities, such as private, nonprofit organizations (or for-profit companies willing to forego profits), including private voluntary organizations, universities, research organizations, professional associations, and relevant special interest associations. Applications from individuals will not be accepted.
- To be eligible as local or regional, the prime applicant must self-certify and submit supporting documentation that they meet the requirements below. The applicant must be:
- Is legally organized under the laws of the Kingdom of Eswatini or of another country in Southern Africa.
- Has as its principal place of business or operations in the Kingdom of Eswatini or another country in Southern Africa.
- Is majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of Eswatini or another country in Southern Africa
- Is managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of Eswatini or another country in Southern Africa.
- The eligibility requirements for local or regional apply to only the principal applicant.
- The Recipient must be a responsible entity. The AO may determine a pre-award survey is required to conduct an examination that will determine whether the prospective recipient has the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills – or ability to obtain them – in order to achieve the objectives of the program and comply with the terms and conditions of the award.
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