Request for Proposal from amfAR: MSM Initiative Community Awards

[Guest guest]

This RFP came my way - passing it along. I copied and pasted from the actual

webpage. Here's the link to complete proposal:

http://www.amfar.org/world/article.aspx?id=8573

Best regards,

Bipasha Biswas, MSW, PhD

Assistant Professor, School of Social Work

Saint Louis University

3550 Lindell Blvd

Saint Louis, MO 63103

bbiswas@...

The Foundation for AIDS Research

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TARGETED Request for Proposals - MSM Initiative Community Awards - Asia-Pacific

Region - Deadline: 19 May 2010

Available Funding

Who Is Eligible to Apply // Who Is Not Eligible

Background

Areas of Interest

Previous Award Recipients

Sponsor Organizations

Review Process

Forms and Instructions

Application Submission

Confidentiality and Communications

Requirements and Restrictions

Available Funding

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research is pleased to announce new funding for

projects that address HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the

Asia-Pacific region. Grassroots organizations in low and middle income countries

of the Asia-Pacific region are encouraged to submit relevant proposals. Funds

for this round of awards are made available through the generous support of

Positive Action.

Each organization may apply for an award of up to $20,000 USD to support

project-related costs for up to 12 months. Only one application may be

submitted per organization. Proposals for general operating support will not be

considered.

It is anticipated that funding recommendations will be announced in September

2010. Organizations that are approved for awards can expect to receive funds to

begin activities as early as October 2010.

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Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Community-based organizations in the Asia-Pacific region (click here to see list

of eligible countries);

Charity or nonprofit organizations (e.g., NGOs, CBOs, and other charitable

organizations) that are the equivalent of U.S. tax-exempt organizations;

Organizations comprised of MSM/LGBT community members and/or that have

established links to MSM/LGBT communities and experience directly involving

members of those communities in the development and implementation of programs

and activities;

Organizations with strong management and leadership;

Organizations with capacity to carry out the proposed activities and effectively

manage award funds.

Who Is Not Eligible and SHOULD NOT APPLY?

Individuals;

Government organizations or units;

For-profit organizations;

Organizations based outside the Asia-Pacific region;

Organizations with annual operating budgets of more than $1 million USD;

Organizations that do not involve members of the MSM/LGBT community in the

development and implementation of programs and activities.

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Background

The MSM Initiative was begun by amfAR is 2007 and benefits from collaboration

with the UNDP, UNAIDS, the Global Forum on MSM & HIV, and many other partners.

The MSM Initiative's community awards program seeks to address HIV among MSM by

supporting the planning and delivery of prevention, treatment, care, and support

services; policy, advocacy, and human rights efforts; and community-led

research. The term " MSM " describes a broad range of male-male sexual behaviors

and identities, each with specific cultural contexts and with specific HIV

risks, prevention strategies, and needs related to access and rights; included

in amfAR's definition of MSM are transgendered persons. amfAR's MSM Initiative

provides vital support to grassroots MSM efforts that are committed to serving

individuals whose needs have often been ignored. For more information about the

MSM Initiative, visit http://www.amfar.org/msm/.

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Areas of Interest

This RFP solicits proposals for innovative HIV/AIDS-related, community-led

projects that increase access to HIV/AIDS services among MSM. These may include:

Direct services/interventions for MSM:

- Prevention, including outreach, psycho-social support, social marketing and

other innovative strategies;

- Direct health services (e.g., HIV counseling and testing, treatment and

care);

Policy, advocacy, and rights-based projects;

Community-led research projects; and/or

A combination of prevention, direct health services, advocacy, and/or research.

Projects should be targeted to reach any or all of the following:

Gay and bisexual men who are relatively open about their sexual orientation;

Transgender individuals;

Networks of hidden MSM or MSM who do not identify as gay; and/or

Non-MSM/LGBT organizations, public institutions, or individuals that need to

better understand and be sensitive to the unique needs of MSM, and/or

organizations that can serve as strong allies in helping to ensure increased

access to HIV services for MSM.

Priority will be given to proposals that reflect innovative approaches that can

be sustained after the conclusion of amfAR funding, and projects that help to

inform local, national, regional, or international advocacy activities. Each

proposal must clearly explain the involvement of local MSM/LGBT communities in

project design, development, implementation, and evaluation.

The MSM Initiative will provide support for organizational development

activities if they are directly related to the project and linked to longer-term

goals related to MSM and HIV.

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Previous Award Recipients

Organizations that received an MSM Initiative award in current and previous

funding years are eligible to submit an application for continued funding if

their total annual operating budget is under $1 million USD. Applications from

current MSM Initiative award recipients should include a summary of work

completed to date and accomplishments resulting from amfAR funding, as well as

details of how the organization plans to build upon successes or challenges from

prior awards.

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Sponsor Organizations

Grassroots groups that are not yet formally registered may consider partnering

with a " sponsor " organization that is eligible to receive funding. The sponsor

organization would receive and manage funds, provide general oversight for

execution of the funded project, and potentially provide technical support to

the applicant. In such cases, the non-registered organization should apply

directly. However, the application should clearly identify the sponsor

organization, describe in detail all technical support that the sponsor will

provide (including monitoring and oversight of expenditures), and include a

letter of agreement from the sponsor.

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Review Process

Funding decisions will be based upon recommendations generated by

community-based peer review involving experts in the region who share the same

or similar expertise, perspectives, and focus on MSM and HIV work as the

applicants. Applications from current MSM Initiative award recipients will be

prioritized for review when their proposals clearly build on accomplishments

from previous years. However, the peer review panel will consider all

applications competitively in making final funding recommendations.

In making funding decisions, the MSM Initiative will advise peer reviewers to

identify and prioritize:

Projects that have the potential for successful implementation and significant

impact;

Projects that are relevant to HIV/AIDS among MSM;

Projects that are sustainable and have potential for replication by other groups

Community-based efforts, meaning that the applicant organization's governance

and leadership is strongly representative of the MSM/LGBT populations that would

benefit from funded activities;

Organizations with documented experience with MSM/LGBT populations and

successful HIV/AIDS interventions, research, and/or policy work; and

Cost-effective budgets that are realistic for the proposed activities.

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Forms and Instructions

Please use the links below to download a copy of this RFP, the application form,

and instructions. Please read all of the instructions carefully as they contain

the information necessary for the proper preparation and submission of a

successful proposal.

Applications may be submitted in English. For applications in a language other

than English, amfAR requires that an English translation also be submitted, even

an approximate translation such as one made using an Internet translation engine

(e.g., Google translate). Copies of both the original language version of the

proposal and the translated English version will be provided to community peer

reviewers.

Applicants must provide the names and contact information of at least three

external references who are familiar with the organization and its work but who

are not affiliated with the organization or the project for which funding is

requested. Please do not include letters of support or other documents from your

references. References may or may not be contacted as part of the proposal

review.

Application form (to be used by all applicants) (Microsoft Word document)

Budget and justification form (to be used by all applicants) (Microsoft Excel

document)

RFP (PDF document)

Application instructions (PDF)

Sample application (PDF)

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Application Submission

E-mail submission (preferred)

E-mail the completed application as an attachment to:

msm.awards@...

Hard copy submission

Send by mail or courier to:

amfAR / MSM Initiative Community Awards

120 Wall Street, 13th Floor

New York, NY 10005-3908 USA

Please remember to mail or ship hard copy submissions with adequate time for

delivery by deadline.

All applications (e-mail or hard copy) must be received no later than:

19 May 2010, 5:00 p.m. in New York City, USA (GMT/UTC 21:00)

Deadlines are strictly observed. Applications that are received late, are

incomplete, or exceed page or budget limitations (see instructions) will not be

reviewed. Proposals may include citations, listed references, and resumes

(curricula vitae) for key personnel. Web links to important documents and

articles may be listed, but they should not be included as physical attachments.

Applicants are encouraged to e-mail msm.awards@... if they have any

questions about this RFP, program design, or the application requirements.

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Confidentiality and Communications

Throughout the review and award process, amfAR routinely respects the privacy of

the applicant and is committed to protecting from disclosure any confidential or

proprietary information contained in a submitted proposal.

However, the MSM Initiative also recognizes that many organizations working to

address HIV among MSM are doing this work in complex and sometimes dangerous or

volatile social, political, and legal environments. Groups that require special

measures to protect confidentiality, particularly due to security and safety

concerns, should indicate this need in the application for funding. In such

instances we will inform reviewers that extra confidentiality is needed, and we

will limit what we communicate about your organization with other funders,

partners, and the public. Indicating that extra confidentiality is not needed

means that we will maintain routine confidentiality about the funding proposal,

but will feel free to communicate about the proposal and the organization to

other funders and partners in the interest of mobilizing support.

While we will make every effort to ensure confidentiality in these situations,

amfAR, the MSM Initiative, and its partners cannot guarantee complete

confidentiality and/or be held liable for the disclosure of information that

causes harm to individuals or groups associated with funded projects. Groups

should be aware that any information provided carries the risk of being shared

publicly through open dialogue about funding priorities, peer review processes,

and communications about MSM Initiative directions, decisions, and reported

outcomes. Submission of a funding application is deemed to indicate the

applicant's understanding and acceptance of these risks.

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Requirements and Restrictions

The MSM Initiative aims to encourage, support, and document activities of the

highest quality. Therefore, all organizations funded by the MSM Initiative will

be required to provide interim and year-end progress reports of program

activities and expenditures. Organizations should be able and ready to document

appropriate financial and accounting controls, including measures to prevent

duplicated use or misappropriation of funds. Any renewal of funding will be

contingent upon careful adherence to these reporting requirements. In addition,

the MSM Initiative will work with partners within the region to be in contact

with award recipients, to monitor and document any needs for technical support

and assistance, and, if possible, to provide this support.

Funding for the MSM Initiative is made possible primarily through the private

donations of individuals and philanthropic foundations. The MSM Initiative will

report regularly to these funding partners about the use of funding and all

supported organizations and activities (except where confidentiality is

specifically requested).