Grants gov
Relevent Country: Haiti
Type of work: Project and Program Management
Last Date: 11-12-2023
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
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:
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
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.