Deadline: 17-Jul-23
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the Children, Adolescents, and Families in the HIV Epidemic in the Free State Province Activity.
USAID/South Africa is committed to supporting the South African Government (SAG) to achieve and sustain HIV epidemic control as well as enhance health security. The purpose of the Children, Adolescents, and Families in the HIV Epidemic in Free State Province Activity is to achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals by 2025 and reach and sustain epidemic control by: ensuring equitable access to and use of health/HIV and social services among children and adolescents affected by HIV (and their families) and strengthening local social service systems to sustain an effective response for children, adolescents, and their families.
The activity will advance local ownership and locally led solutions for a model of high-quality care and support of children and adolescents living with, affected by, and vulnerable to HIV, and their families in the Free State Province. The strategic transition to South African institutions will support an ultimate transition to the South African Government Department of Social Development (DSD) and Provincial DSD to lead and sustain the response, advancing development outcomes for children, adolescents, and their families in the Free State Province.
Goal
- The Children, Adolescents, and Families in the HIV Epidemic in Free State Province Activity, hereinafter referred to as the Activity, will contribute to the achievement of 95-95-95, reaching and sustaining epidemic control in South Africa, specifically Free State Province, by helping to reduce lifetime risk of HIV acquisition and achieve durable viral suppression among children, adolescents, and their families. The goal of the Activity is to improve the health, well-being, and protection of children and adolescents (and their families) living with, affected by, and vulnerable to HIV through high-impact service delivery and social service system strengthening to sustain an effective response for children, adolescents, and their families through locally led solutions in Free State Province.
- In line with SAG and U.S. Government Partnership Framework Implementation Plan, the Activity’s priorities include long-term sustainability with health and social system strengthening to bolster an efficient, locally led response, including youth identified solutions. The Activity aims to standardize a robust model of care that can ultimately be replicated and scaled up by DSD. In addition, cornerstones of the Activity will be advancing equity for children and AGYW and human rights, meaningful youth engagement and participation, as well as maximizing community leadership to strengthen program responsiveness to clients’ priorities and improve service quality, acceptability, and impact. The Activity will include a combination of evidence-based, high-impact service delivery for Comprehensive, Preventive, and DREAMS Family Strengthening activities targeting children, adolescents, and their families in the HIV epidemic; local partner capacity strengthening; and district-level social service system strengthening for long-term sustainability. The geographic focus for the Activity is the two high HIV districts in the Free State Province: Lejweleputswa and Thabo Mofutsanyane. However, the geographic focus may shift in line with epidemiological changes and/or Government of South Africa and USG priorities.
Objectives
- The Activity will consist of three key objectives which are as follows:
- Increase access to and utilization of comprehensive, preventive, and DREAMS Family Strengthening services among children and adolescents 0-17 years and their families through implementation of evidence-based interventions
- Improve Local Partner capacity for governance, program monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (MER), and stakeholder engagement at Provincial, District, and Sub-District
- Strengthen Provincial, District and Sub-District social service workforce capacity to sustain an effective response for children, adolescents, and their families in high HIV burden districts.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $15,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $15,000,000
- Award Floor: $1,000,000
- The anticipated period of performance is five (5) years. The estimated start date will be on or about December 1, 2023.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligibility is restricted to local entities. For purposes of consistency and reporting, the definition of “local entity” means an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that:
- Is legally organized under the laws of South Africa;
- Has as its principal place of business or operations in South Africa;
- Is majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of South Africa;
- Is managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the country receiving assistance.
- For purposes of this definition, ‘majority owned’ and ‘managed by’ include, without limitation, beneficiary interests and the power, either directly or indirectly, whether exercised or exercisable, to control the election, appointment, or tenure of the organization’s managers or a majority of the organization’s governing body by any means.
- USAID welcomes applications from eligible organizations which have not previously received financial assistance from USAID. International or U.S. organizations are not eligible to submit an application for an award as a prime applicant under this request for applications.
- Applicants must have established financial management, monitoring and evaluation processes, internal control systems, and policies and procedures that comply with established U.S. Government standards, laws, and regulations. The successful applicant(s) may be subject to a responsibility determination assessment (Pre-award Survey) by the Agreement Officer (AO).
- 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.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.