The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for cooperative agreement from local qualified entities to implement the Sustaining Impact for Youth program.

USAID/Haiti, with President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding, is seeking to fund the Sustaining Impact for Youth activity (the “Activity”), to support children, adolescents, and their families living with or at risk of contracting HIV to improve health and wellness outcomes and reduce new HIV infections and violence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). This planned Activity will be implemented in selected geographic departments based on need. The Activity is expected to result in mitigation of the impact of HIV, reduction in new HIV infections, prevention and reduction of gender based violence (GBV) and improved linkage to post-violence care, and improved HIV clinical outcomes for those on HIV treatment among the target sub-populations.

Activity Overview and Objectives

The new Activity will address the needs of OVC and Adolescents in Haiti, ensuring adequate access to a wide range of prevention, testing, care, and treatment and psychosocial support services based on the changing needs and circumstances of OVC and their caregivers and families. The Activity will ensure a continuum of care between facility-based services and community-based OVC activities. A case management model, including bi-directional referrals between health facilities and community programming are key to the success of the Activity. Given this bi-directional relationship, the Sustaining Impact for Youth activity will systematically coordinate with the clinical partners. The Activity will also collaborate with other PEPFAR communication and technical assistance partners to better target and reach children, families and communities.

The Activity will also implement DREAMS programming targeting vulnerable AGYW (10-24 years) in communities with a high burden of HIV who are at an increased risk of acquiring HIV due to various demographic, geographic, behavioral, and structural reasons. The Activity will deliver the DREAMS core package, an evidence-based/informed, age-appropriate, comprehensive package of biomedical, behavioral, and structural interventions across multiple sectors shown to mitigate the risk factors that may lead to HIV infection. Additionally, it will provide contextual interventions to shift community norms and perceptions in order to create an enabling environment that supports HIV prevention.

The Activity will target children, adolescents and families living in catchment areas where PEPFAR clinical IPs are present and provide PMTCT, EID, and pediatric/adult care and treatment HIV programs. Referrals for OVC activities will come through clinical, community, and/or social service entry points.

Purpose

The goal of this activity is to support children, adolescents, youth, and families in the epidemic to improve HIV and health outcomes and reduce new HIV infections among AGYW. This Activity supports the Country Framework for reduction of HIV transmission and acquisition and in meeting the 95-95-95 goal.

Funding Information 

• Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated
• USAID may award one (1) to two (2) Cooperative Agreement(s) pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity. Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide $30,000,000 in total USAID funding over a five (5) year period. USAID reserves the right to not make any awards
• Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Awards
• The anticipated period of performance is five (5) years. The estimated start date will be upon the signature of the award, on or about.
• Results and Intermediate Results
• Result 1: Vulnerable children and families are healthy, safe, stable and schooled
• IR 1.1: Increased capacity of families to support vulnerable children
• IR 1.2: Children and adolescents living with HIV and HIV-exposed infants are identified and receive comprehensive support to be retained on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and virally suppressed.
• IR 1.3 Children aged 10-14 have knowledge and skills about preventing HIV and sexual violence
• Result 2: Increased resilience of AGYW to HIV risks
• IR 2.1: Improved livelihoods and social assets among AGYW
• IR 2.2: Increased uptake of adolescent sexual and reproductive health and HIV services
• IR 2.3 Increased capacity of communities to address harmful social and gender norms affecting HIV risk among children and AGYW
• Result 3: Support USAID and PEPFAR localization and national capacity building goals
• IR 3.1: Strengthen the capacity of local partners to implement OVC and DREAMS programming.
• IR 3.2: Improved Government institutions capacity to effectively manage OVC/DREAMS programming

Population Focus

Consistent with the broader PEPFAR guidance on programming for OVC and DREAMS, this activity will target vulnerable children and families most affected by the HIV epidemic, and AGYW at highest risk of HIV infection. Caregivers and communities are a focus for building resilience and providing a safe and secure foundation for positive education and health outcomes for OVC and AGYW and effectively reducing their vulnerability.

Vulnerable children aged 0-17 with known risk factors to be prioritized for comprehensive OVC services and case management, including:

• Children and Adolescents Living with HIV (C/ALHIV)
• HIV- exposed Infants (HEI) and mothers
• Children and adolescents living with an HIV+ caregiver, especially those who are not virally suppressed, or are at greatest risk of interruption in treatment
• Children who have experienced sexual and other abuse, GBV and violence due to gang activity
• Children of Key Populations (men who have sex with men, female sex workers, transgendered persons, people who inject or use drugs, and prison population)
• AGYW who are pregnant or are mothers
• Adolescent girls and boys aged 10-14 will be eligible to receive HIV and violence prevention activities using an approved curriculum, per the country’s operational plan guidance.
• AGYW aged 10-24 with risk and vulnerability factors as outlined in the PEPFAR DREAMS guidance will be prioritized for DREAMS services. Ensure that the Activity targets the most vulnerable AGYW during the screening process through enrolment.

Geographic Focus

The geographic focus of the existing OVC program is currently all health districts in Haiti but OVC geographic coverage may adjust in future years based on available data, in collaboration with the Programme National de Lutte Contre le SIDA (PNLS) and USG. DREAMS is not meant to be implemented country-wide, but rather in the highest burden areas, where large numbers of AGYW are vulnerable to HIV acquisition, which may change during the Activity lifetime. Geographic considerations based on current epidemiological data, survey findings, cultural considerations and other routine indicators are utilized to determine priority areas. Currently, DREAMS interventions are implemented in four districts including Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitian, Marchand-Dessalines, and Saint Marc. Future adjustments to Intervention areas will be conducted in collaboration with the PNLS and PEPFAR based on available data.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility is restricted to local entities. Prime local entities may have US or non-US organizations as sub-awardees.
• Locally led development has been identified for the Sustaining Impact for Youth Activity because implementing the Activity requires in-depth knowledge and connections within the targeted communities. Restricting eligibility to local entities for this activity supports USAID’s Localization Vision and Approach, which seeks to expand the share of USAID programming that is locally led, and that engages with local actors as partners rather than as agents and beneficiaries.
• Only local organizations as defined below are eligible for award. USAID defines a “local entity” as an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that:
• Is legally organized under the laws of; and
• Has as its principal place of business or operations in; and Is
• majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of; and
• managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the country receiving assistance.

Cost Sharing or Matching

A minimum recipient cost share of three percent (3%) of projected award amount is preferred. Such funds may be provided directly by the recipient; other multilateral, bilateral, and foundation donors; host governments; and local organizations, communities and private businesses that contribute financially and in-kind to implementation of activities at the country level. This may include contribution of staff level of effort, office space or other facilities or equipment which may be used for the program, provided by the recipient.

Source: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/350756