Community REACH grants available for Africa, Asia

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Community REACH grants available for Africa, Asia, Americas and Eastern Europe?

AIDS Channel By n Meldrum - January 11, 2001

A US-government backed grants programme called Community REACH (Rapid and

Effective Action Combating HIV/AIDS) was launched on 7 January with a Request

For Applications to support work on HIV and AIDS in selected countries and

regions around the world. The definitive list of eligible countries was not,

however, released until 14 January; this report has been updated to reflect that

list.

This is the start of an initial five-year, 40 million US dollar programme funded

by the US government and administered by the organisation Pact, in partnership

with the Futures Group International, which may be extended and expanded later.

The aim is to speed up funding and make it more flexible to give better support

to communities responding to HIV/AIDS.

To distribute funds, Pact will issue approximately two to three solicitations

for proposals a year. Grants will be awarded in amounts starting at $100,000 for

periods of up to three years, depending on fund availability, with unlimited

potential for cost sharing (see below) from other sources.

The first round of grants will be restricted to countries and regions

categorised by USAID as “Rapid Scale Up” or “Intensive Focus”, based on the

scale of their HIV epidemic and their ability to make use of international

resources in responding to it.

These countries are now (from 14 January 2002): Brazil, Cambodia, Dominican

Republic, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi,

Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania,

Uganda, Ukraine, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

A longer list of countries is in line to benefit from future rounds (subject to

negotiation and discussion between USAID and Pact).

US and other international " Private and Voluntary Organisations " (PVOs) can

apply for these grants, but must have either a current presence in the country

for which they are applying to conduct a project or partner with a local

non-governmental organisation (NGO) in that country. Regional and local NGOs,

universities, and faith-based organizations engaged in HIV/AIDS activities that

meet USAID's criteria are also eligible. All applications must also be supported

by the relevant USAID mission in the country or region.

There is an expectation that organisations will raise some part of the cost of

the programme from other sources ( " cost share " ). " Community REACH expects

applications of $100,000 to $300,000 to include a minimum cost-share of 10%.

Applications above $300,000 should include a minimum cost-share of 25%. "

Grants can be awarded in all areas of activity that USAID supports, broadly

divided into three categories:

Primary HIV/AIDS prevention strategies including behavior change

communication, condom promotion and availability, prevention of mother-to-child

transmission, blood safety, harm reduction for intravenous drug users and stigma

reduction.

Voluntary counseling and testing focusing on provision of high quality

services, introduction of rapid testing and training of health personnel.

Care and support for those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS (see below

for more details; this is the focus of the first grants round).

Grants will be directed to those activities that have a direct impact on these

areas. Funded activities will be consistent with USAID's goals of " increased use

of improved, effective and sustainable responses to reduce HIV transmission and

to mitigate the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. "

For the current round of funding, the focus is on care and support. This means:

Referrals for prophylaxis, treatment of opportunistic infection, and

palliative care

Referrals for out of hospital to competent, home-based care and ambulatory

care

Care for orphans and vulnerable children

Food and nutrition component for HIV/AIDS infected/affected.

Applications for the first round will be accepted until 8 March 2002. For

additional information, contact the Community REACH team at

reachgrants@.... Information will also be available at USAID Missions,

Pact and the Futures Group International field offices (as well as through the

web links given at the beginning of this article).

http://www.aidschannel.org

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