U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. EMBASSY KAMPALA, PEPFAR UGANDA SMALL GRANTS OFFICE
Notice of Funding Opportunity
Funding Opportunity Title: PEPFAR Uganda Community Grants to Combat HIV/AIDS
Funding Opportunity Number: DOS-UGA-SMGCG-FY24
Deadline for Applications: July 31, 2023 by 11:59 PM (UTC +3)
CFDA Number: 19.029 – The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Programs
Maximum for Each Award: $15,000 USD
Expected Amount Available: $310,000 USD
- PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
U.S. Embassy, Kampala PEPFAR Uganda Small Grants Office is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Community Grants to Combat HIV/AIDS Program. This is an open competition. Outlined in this announcement are PEPFAR Uganda’s funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on and the procedures for submitting a proposal. Please carefully read and follow all instructions below.
PEPFAR Uganda invites proposals for projects that do one or more of the following:
- Promote HIV/AIDS prevention
- Address stigma, discrimination and/or gender-based violence (GBV)
- Promote capacity building
- Strengthen democracy and governance related to the national HIV response
- Demand creation for VMMC services
- Promote care and treatment, and adherence to treatment to the beneficiaries as outlined below.
Download: PEPFAR Uganda Application of Interest_FY2024 (Filled out completely.)
Download: PEPFAR Uganda Detailed Budget Summary_2024
Download: Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)
Download: Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B)
Download: Assurances for NON-Construction Programs (SF-424B)
Download: How to Apply for a PEPFAR Community Grant to Combat HIV/AIDS – A short presentation providing guidance on how to apply for this grant.
Download: PEPFAR Community Grants Q&A Document
BENEFICIARIES
Targeted beneficiaries of the PEPFAR Uganda Community Grants to Combat HIV/AIDS for this proposal include the following:
- Adolescents Girls and Young Women (AGYW)
- Faith-Based Communities
- Key Populations (KPs)
- Men and Young Males (MYM)
- Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs)
- People Living with HIV (PLHIV)
- People with Disabilities (PWDs)
The Small Grants Office welcomes applications from registered non-profit Ugandan organizations such as Community Based Organizations (CBO), Faith Based Organizations (FBO), or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO).
- ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN (AGYW)
Adolescent Girls and Young Woman (AGYW) are defined as females between ages 10-24. They account for 67% of new HIV infections in Eastern and Southern Africa. Young women and girls in Uganda are twice as likely to be living with HIV as boys and men of the same age and account for one in four new infections. Applications focused on AGYW should address one or more of the following issues: gender equality, education, financial empowerment, family planning, income-generating activities and trainings, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, including remaining HIV negative and support to ones with positive status, sexual assault prevention and counselling, targeting male partners of HIV+ women.
- FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES
Applications geared towards faith-based communities should focus on building interfaith connections, combatting misinformation by religious communities, faith and traditional healers, addressing issues of gender equality, education, financial empowerment, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, including remaining HIV negative and support to ones with positive status, stigma reduction, sexual assault prevention and counselling.
- KEY POPULATIONS
A key and priority population (KP/PP) is a group of people who are affected by punitive laws, regulations, and policies, severely stigmatized and marginalized, and are disproportionately affected by HIV. This includes female sex workers, fisher folk, prison inmates and their families, and other marginalized communities.
KP/PP applications should use community-based outreach as an effective method of overcoming challenges. Projects should aim to increase KPs’ access to health services, build capacity within civil society organizations to combat stigma and discrimination, prevent HIV/AIDS in key populations and/or secure basic human rights.
- MEN AND YOUNG MALES
Ugandan men are a priority population for PEPFAR Uganda Community Grants as recent statistics indicate that there are persistent case identification gaps among men, and men engaging in sexual activity with non-marital or cohabitating partners are less likely to use condoms as they age. Grants addressing these beneficiaries could focus on sexual violence prevention; on HIV/AIDS prevention; referrals for HIV testing for uniformed men in the police or military, prisoners and transitory populations such as truck drivers, boda boda drivers or fisher folk.
- ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
OVCs, under the PEPFAR program, are defined as children 0-17 years of age who have one or more of the following characteristics: have lost a parent to HIV/AIDS; who are otherwise directly affected by HIV; or who live in areas of high HIV prevalence and may be vulnerable to HIV or its socioeconomic effects. OVC applications should emphasize family-centered activities that lessen the impact of HIV/AIDS on children and adolescents, including meeting their most basic needs of health, safety, stability, and schooling, preventing HIV/AIDS and the reduction of gender-based violence.
- PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV (PLHIV)
Programs focused on people living with HIV could focus on linkage to treatment, referrals to testing, counselling, access and availability of mental health services or psychosocial support for PLHIV and families, developing networks to increase retention in care and income-generating activities. Counseling on disclosing of one’s status to their partner and family, providing mental services to PLHIV to reduce the prevalence of anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns, and reducing stigma are additional key activities.
- PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Programs focused on people living with disabilities could focus on linkage to treatment, referrals to testing, counselling and income-generating activities. Counselling and reducing stigma are additional key activities.
TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT WILL BE PRIORITIZED:
- Adolescent-friendly sexual education and prevention activities, campaigns and workshops outside of the school day; ensure linkage to treatment, support disclosure, adherence and viral load suppression among children and adolescents living with HIV through family counseling and peer groups; youth camps that promote prevention.
- Providing job skills training for women and girls living with HIV.
- Religious leader training programs focused on HIV/AIDS and those that counter false claims made by faith healers and build inter-faith networks to support people living with HIV/AIDS.
- Enrolling and retaining HIV positive KP members in HIV care and treatment and other health services towards the PEPFAR 95-95-95 goal; providing targeted HIV testing and counseling (HTC) that are accessible to KPs (i.e. mobile counseling and testing, drop-in centers, “hotspots,” and households); promoting an inclusive community in view of the legal environment around KP programming; helping KPs know their legal rights and enabling them to advocate for basic human rights; or building capacity within civil society organizations to combat stigma and discrimination.
- Developing education and cultural programs for HIV prevention and awareness, including for key populations (PLHIV, MSM, people who inject drugs (PWID), and prisoners).
- Projects targeting males which may include health education, targeted HIV testing and counseling, couples counseling, safer sexual practices, risk reduction counseling, family planning and linking HIV negative male partners to the VMMC programs, education programs to reduce incidence of GBV.
- Evidence-based programs in positive parenting, positive gender norms training, and adherence support groups; provide education support to ensure school retention, transition and completion targeting highly vulnerable adolescent girls (both HIV infected and affected) at-risk of dropping out of school; provide targeted assistance to children and caregivers that have been victims of GBV including identification and notification of GBV cases, linkage to health and psychosocial services, and follow-up through the legal redress process; counselling and sensitization to disclosing HIV status.
- Developing networks of PLHIV to increase retention in care and offering access to mental health or psychosocial support services to reduce the risk of developing mood, anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns.
- Approaches to improve PWD awareness, access and use of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services; inclusion in policy dialogue and decision making.
- Use of technology and social media (WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to target youth; HIV/AIDS education, providers’ map of facilities for testing and treatment; creating internet hubs to attract beneficiaries.
- Training for local press to effectively cover HIV/AIDS.
- Projects outside of Kampala and Wakiso are particularly encouraged to apply.
THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING:
- Projects promoting political or specific religious activity
- Construction projects
- Lobbying for or against specific legislation
- Projects sponsored by an individual or a for-profit organization
- Projects focused on adolescent girls (mentoring, income-generating activities, school retention, etc.) in DREAMS districts and cities (Agago District, Apac District, Bukomansimbi District, Fort Portal City, Gomba District, Gulu District, Gulu City, Kalangala District, Kampala District, Kampala City, Kassanda District, Kayunga District, Kwania District, Kyotera District, Lira District, Lira City, Luwero District, Lwengo District, Lyantonde District, Masaka District, Masaka City, Mbarara District, Mbarara City, Mityana District, Mubende District, Mukono District, Omoro District, Oyam District, Rakai District, Sembabule District, Wakiso District)
- Generalized HIV testing (if done, testing must be targeted to key/priority populations)
AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION, TYPE AND YEAR OF FUNDING
Funding authority rests in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
There are many examples of ideal PEPFAR Small Grants projects. However, successful projects share similar features.
Small Grant activities should:
- Be unique, innovative and be able to clearly show impact and effectiveness.
- Improve basic conditions at the local, community or village.
- Provide services directly to the community or improve access or referrals to health facilities and services.
- Benefit a substantial number of people in the community.
- Be within the means of the local community to operate and maintain.
- Be conducted by a Ugandan group. Community-based organizations, KP-led, women-led, and faith-based organizations and groups of people living with HIV/AIDS are encouraged to apply.
- Be focused on long-term community impact and the project must be sustainable on its own or with help from the community when the grant is completed.
- Be able to measure the results of the project (for example, be able to count children or patients served; number of volunteers trained; number of people reached during a campaign). Monitoring and evaluation is a key requirement.
- FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION
| Project Performance Period: Project should be completed in 12 months. |
| Award Amounts: Grant Agreements can be between $7,000 and $15,000 USD (Budget should be submitted in Ugandan shillings. When creating the budget, applicants should use a 3600UGX/$1 exchange rate.) |
| Type of Funding: Fiscal Year 2024 PEPFAR Uganda Community Grants to Combat HIV/AIDS |
| Anticipated project start date: January 2024
This notice is subject to availability of funding. |
| Anticipated Number of Grants to be Awarded: 22 – 35 |
- ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
The PEPFAR Small Grants Office welcomes applications from registered non-profit Ugandan organizations such as Community Based Organizations (CBO), Faith Based Organizations (FBO), or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO).
Organizations selected for funding are required to have a direct impact in their local community and have community support in the form of funding, labor and/or other services. Selected organizations must be able to establish clear performance goals, indicators and timely project deliverables that can be externally verified. Funded organizations are also required to monitor, measure and report results achieved in accordance with PEPFAR’s reporting requirements. Once the grant is over, the organization must be sustainable on its own or with other funding from the community and/or other donors.
For-profit, commercial or unregistered entities are not eligible to apply.
COST SHARING OR MATCHING
Cost sharing is not required.
OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Applicants are allowed to submit more than one proposal per organization.
- The PEPFAR Small Grants Office reserves the right to request additional background information on applicants that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards.
- In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov and valid registration on SAM.gov, before the funds are disbursed.
- Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System in the System for Award Management (SAM) (sam.gov) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR,1986 Comp., p.189) and 12689 (3 CFR,1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” Additionally, no entity listed on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Excluded Parties List System in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included in their organization or as a subcontractor.
- APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION
APPLICATION PACKAGE
Application forms are available no later than July 31, 2023 on the U.S. Embassy Kampala website at https://ug.usembassy.gov/grant-programs/.
CONTENT OF APPLICATION
Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. Please ensure:
- The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity.
- All documents are in English.
- All budgets are in Ugandan Shillings, with a 3600UGX/$1 exchange rate (subject to daily currency fluctuation since payment will be in U.S. dollars).
- Application form is for FY2024. Applications from previous years are not acceptable.
- Application form is not changed in any way.
- Application is completed electronically in its original format. Please do not print and hand-write your application. Do not print and send a .pdf your application.
- Application must be received electronically via email. Please do not mail your application form.
- Application is received by the posted due date and time.
- Application is received with all required documentation.
The application package contains the following:
- Forms to be attached to electronic email submission:
- PEPFAR Application of Interest_FY2024 (Filled out completely)
- PEPFAR Budget Summary_FY2024
- Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)
- Budget Information for Non-Construction Program (SF-424A)
- Assurances for NON-Construction Programs (SF-424B)
- A copy of the organization’s registration certificate, if available
- Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)
If selected to receive a PEPFAR Uganda Community Grants for HIV/AIDS your organization will be required to obtain a registration and Unique Entity ID on www.SAM.gov. This registration is free of charge.
SUBMISSION DATE AND TIME
PEPFAR Uganda Small Grants Office will only accept proposals from the date of this notice of funding through 11:59 PM (UTC+3) on July 31, 2023. No applications will be accepted after that date.
FUNDING RESTRICTIONS
Funding cannot be used for the following purposes:
- Construction of buildings
- Generalized HIV testing (if done, testing must be targeted to key/priority populations)
- We do not pay for anything that your project can obtain from the local health facility (test kits, condoms, medicines, etc.)
- Projects focused on adolescent girls (mentoring, income-generating activities, school retention, etc.) in DREAMS districts and cities (Agago District, Apac District, Bukomansimbi District, Fort Portal City, Gomba District, Gulu District, Gulu City, Kalangala District, Kampala District, Kampala City, Kassanda District, Kayunga District, Kwania District, Kyotera District, Lira District, Lira City, Luwero District, Lwengo District, Lyantonde District, Masaka District, Masaka City, Mbarara District, Mbarara City, Mityana District, Mubende District, Mukono District, Omoro District, Oyam District, Rakai District, Sembabule District, Wakiso District)
- Salary supplements to any employee of the Ugandan government, Ugandan police, or local religious leaders including sitting fees, facilitation fees, travel reimbursement, etc.
- Salary, rent, utilities or office furniture related to the organization applying for the Community Grants funding
- Land purchase, security guards, motor vehicles (including motorcycles, but excluding bicycles), motor vehicle repairs or upkeep
- Capital funding for any VSLA, SACCO or other micro-finance effort
- Outside audits (not required by the PEPFAR Uganda Small Grants Office)
- Purchase of alcoholic beverages
EMAIL SUBMISSION
All application materials must be submitted using the organization’s primary email to: KampalaPEPFAR@state.gov
- APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION
CRITERIA
Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below. The criteria listed are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application.
Application completion: The application is complete. All sections are filled in and required documentation is included. Information is clear and consistent throughout the application. Application rules for submission are followed. Application is not changed or transformed in any way.
Organizational capacity: The organization is a registered Ugandan NGO, CBO or FBO. Organizations must have identified existing partnerships, linkages and support systems in the project community. This includes health centers, other NGO/CBO/FBO organizations, PEPFAR Uganda implementing partners, the Ugandan Government and any outside donors.
Quality of project idea, goals objectives: The organization demonstrates a strong understanding of their project and the community needs that are being met. All goals, objectives and activities are clearly defined and support the beneficiaries.
95-95-95 Goals: The project works toward PEPFAR’s 95-95-95 HIV/AIDS goals.
Community Support: The organization has strong support from the community which may include contributions of in-kind donations, meeting space, materials, food, leadership, labor, or cash toward the project.
Budget: The budget justification narrative is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities. Unallowable items are not included. Budget is in Ugandan shillings using the current exchange rate. Please use a 3600UGX/$1 exchange rate when calculating your budget.
Monitoring and evaluation plan: Applicant demonstrates an ability to measure program success against key indicators and provide milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The project includes output and outcome indicators that can be externally verified and shows how and when those will be measured.
Sustainability: Project activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the project.
Innovation: Creative and effective strategies and uses of technology to reach and engage with beneficiaries.
REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS
- FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
FEDERAL AWARD NOTICES
The grant award will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring project expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer.
If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.
Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.
PAYMENT
Payments will be made in at least two installments (in Ugandan shillings based on the current daily exchange rate at the time of disbursement), as needed to carry out the project activities. Details will be outlined in the grant agreement.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS: TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include:
2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, Certifications and Assurances, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, all of which are available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl
REPORTING
Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted.
- FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS
If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact PEPFAR Uganda Small Grants office at KampalaPEPFAR@state.gov or +256 414 306 421.
For assistance with Grants.gov accounts and technical issues related to using the system, please call the Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or email support@grants.gov. The Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except federal holidays.
Applications and Notice of Funding guidelines are available at https://ug.usembassy.gov/grant-programs/ .
Note: We do not provide any pre-consultation for application-related questions that are addressed in the NOFO. Once an application has been submitted, State Department officials and staff — both in the Department and at embassies overseas — may not discuss this competition with applicants until the entire proposal review process is completed.
- OTHER INFORMATION
- Applicants should be aware that the Small Grants Office understands that some information contained in applications may be considered sensitive or proprietary and will make appropriate efforts to protect such information. However, applicants are advised that the Small Grants Office cannot guarantee that such information will not be disclosed, including pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or other similar statutes.
- Issuance of the NOFO and negotiation of applications does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government. The Small Grants Office reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program’s requirements.
