USAID seeking Applications to implement DREAMS North Program (South Africa)

Deadline: 11-Feb-2025

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for one cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the “HIV Prevention Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women and Other Vulnerable Youth Populations – DREAMS North” program.

The goal of the Activity is to substantially lower HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) ages 10-24 in the below geographic areas of highest HIV incidence and prevalence. It is envisioned that this goal will be achieved by improving AGYW access to a comprehensive package of evidence-based/informed, age-appropriate prevention interventions that address biological, behavioral, and socio-economic determinants of HIV risk, and by prioritizing the supply of contraception, STI treatment, and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).

The Activity will support the South African Government’s multi-sector strategies and priorities for HIV prevention and its efforts to achieve 95-95-95 goals along with near-universal HIV prevention and treatment coverage ending HIV by 2030. In line with GoSA 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. In addition, cornerstones of the Activity will be advancing equity for 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.

Objectives 

• The Activity will consist of four (4) objectives which are as follows:
  • Strengthen community and youth leadership and participation in social and behavior change services;
  • Increase access to and utilization of biomedical HIV prevention services;
  • Improve access to social protection services; and
  • Increase technical assistance support to key GoSA departments to sustain and integrate DREAMS interventions and approaches into GoSA priorities and plans.

Funding Information

• Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID expects to have a total estimated amount range between $52M-$58M in USAID funding over a five-year period.

Geographic Focus

• The geographic focus of the HIV Prevention among Adolescent Girls and Young Women
• (AGYW) and Other Vulnerable Youth Populations Activity – DREAMS North is 7 districts across 3 Provinces that have been identified as having significantly high rates of HIV incidence and prevalence.
• This Activity is anticipated to encompass three provinces: Mpumalanga (Gert Sibanda, Nkangala, and Ehlanzeni), Gauteng (City of Johannesburg and Sedibeng), and Limpopo (Mopani and Capricorn).
• The anticipated geographic focus may shift in line with epidemiological changes and/or Government of South Africa (GoSA) and USG priorities. These shifts may result in the number of focus districts increasing or decreasing within the identified provinces or a shift to a new province and district(s) based on epidemiological changes in the outward years.

Expected Results

• A reduction in new HIV infections amongst AGYW 10-24 years old.
• Number of people in DREAMS SNUs completing an intervention pertaining to gender norms, that meets minimum criteria.
• A reduction in new Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases amongst AGYW 10-24 years old.
• Reach vulnerable youth and AGYW with PrEP interventions.
• An increase in AGYW 15-24 years old in economically strengthened positions.
• The following describes in detail the four objectives and related intermediate results (IRs) to be achieved over the life of this Activity including tracking and reporting on PEPFAR Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) indicators below and activity specific custom indicators under Section V Monitoring, Reporting, and Quality Assurance.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility is restricted to local entities. Restricting eligibility to local South African organizations is the most responsive approach as the local organizations have the local knowledge of how to optimally tailor the technical approach that would allow for locally-developed and locally-led innovative and creative approaches to most effectively address development barriers and have the most efficient programmatic path to achieving epidemic control and development results.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.