The U.S. Embassy Maseru Special Projects Office is offering the PEPFAR Small Grants Program to empower local Civil Society Organizations for Community-Led Monitoring of HIV Services.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

U.S. Embassy Maseru Special Projects Office announces an open competition for local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Community groups and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to submit applications to implement a Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) program with reference to the implementation guide (attached).

CLM is a technique initiated and implemented by local community-based organizations and other civil society groups, networks of key populations (KP), people living with HIV (PLHIV), and other affected groups, or other community entities that gather quantitative and qualitative data about HIV services. The CLM focus remains on getting input from recipients of HIV services in a routine and systematic manner that intends to inform action and improvements.

In alignment with PEPFAR Country Operational Plan, CLM activities are required to ensure explicit focus on Key Populations. This does not mean KPs are the only focus on CLM activities, but rather they must be included. Key Populations include men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers, people who inject drugs, and people in prisons and other enclosed settings.

The CLM program is funded through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), in support of the Ministry of Health’s effort to achieve HIV epidemic control through the implementation of evidence-based and client-centered interventions to accelerate progress in HIV prevention, care, and treatment.

The goal of the CLM program is to help PEPFAR programs and health institutions identify persistent problems, challenges, and barriers to effective service and client outcomes at the site level to formulate workable solutions that overcome these barriers and ensure beneficiaries have access to quality services.

The objective of the CLM program is to facilitate participation of local CSO groups in the evaluation of HIV services, identify areas for improvement, advocate for change, guide the health care providers to incorporate monitoring as part of their routine activities, and sensitize the facility feedback tool among PLHIV groups.

Each grant will implement the CLM activities at public health facilities (run by either Government of Lesotho and/or Christian Health Association of Lesotho) and communities, with specific guidance regarding district and health facility coverage. Additionally, local organizations that receive grants will conduct facility exit interviews and facility/community interfaces and dialogues as per the CLM implementation guidance. Based on the data collected, findings will be collated and disseminated to all relevant stakeholders such as, health facilities, DHMTs, the MOH and CSOs.

Training and Technical Assistance (TA) will be provided to organizations selected for these awards. A capacity building and coordination organization will be engaged to train, support, and equip selected grantees on CLM principles and tools, data collection and reporting, advocacy, grant management, and customized TA support based on individual capacity assessments to be done. The capacity building and coordination organization will directly work with the selected grantees to coordinate the program implementation.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligible applicants

The Special Projects Office welcomes applications from community-based organizations and other civil society groups; networks of key populations, people living with HIV and other affected groups; or other entities that gather data and observations about components of HIV services, with a focus on getting input from recipients of HIV services. 

·        All applicants must be legally registered and have been in operation for at least one year to be eligible for funding.

·        Being a community led or KP led group with primary mandate of HIV/Health will be an added advantage.

·        Organizations must be able to demonstrate that they have adequate internal controls and financial monitoring procedures in place.

·        Organizations should demonstrate strong ties and support in the local community and with local governmental authorities.

Each project accepted for funding will submit financial and narrative progress reports on a routine basis.

Please note that organizations currently funded by PEPFAR to deliver health services either in the community or at health facilities are prohibited from applying for this grant.

However, in specific circumstances, a PEPFAR IP or sub-grantee that performs site-level service delivery may be included as a CLM partner if the organization meets the other requirements of a strong CLM partner, such as being led by a community or key population, and is not monitoring its own sites.

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Complete application MUST include the following:

Proposal (20 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. 

• Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact.
• Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.
• Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed.
• Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.
• Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.
• Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.

·        Expected measurable results (not exceeding ONE page)

• Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.
• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? 
• Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.
• Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?
• Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.
• Accountability and Compliance: demonstrate experience or how you are/will be accountable to communities you represent/serve, and also being able to meet deadlines as agreed.

 Detailed Budget amount of funding request; costs must be in U.S dollar and estimated in Maloti using exchange rate of $1=M16 and not exceeding $20,000

 Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

Mandatory Application Forms

 Form SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance

Form SF-424A Budget for Non-Construction Programs

From SF-424B Assurances for Construction Programs

 Attachments

·        1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program with their role description

·        Monitoring and evaluation narrative plan (not exceeding TWO pages, word document)

·        A copy of your organization’s constitution

·        A list of committee members with their names and addresses. The minimum number of project members required to apply for funding is eight.

·        A copy of project bank account details including the name of the bank, account name, account number and type of account (savings or checking).

 The PEPFAR Small Grants Community-Led Monitoring Program will accept applications from March 01, 2023 to April 26, 2023.

Applicants should not request more than $20,000 USD and each applicant/organization will only receive one award. Please note that the PEPFAR Small Grants Program is subject to the availability of funds. Applicants should include an anticipated start date of October 01, 2023.

The project period is anticipated to be 24 months.

Applications can be emailed to grantsmaseru@state.gov or mailed to/handed in to

           U.S. Embassy Maseru

Special Projects Office

           254 Kingsway

           P.O. Box 333

           Maseru 100, Lesotho             

Any application that is received after the deadline, is incomplete, or is missing required documentation will be rejected.

Please Note: The Special Projects Office retains the right to ask for additional documents not included in this NOFO. 

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

The Special Projects Office will determine eligibility for all applications and then each application will be evaluated and rated individually against the following criteria, listed below. The Special Projects Office strives to ensure each application receives a balanced evaluation by a review panel.

• The application should be responsive to the NOFO.
• Applicants should not request more than $20,000 USD and each applicant/organization will only receive one award.
• Competitive applications should clearly indicate the district or districts they want to work in by order of preference (e.g., first choice, second choice, etc.). Each applicant/organization will only be able to provide community monitoring in one district.
• The application should clearly indicate the number of health facilities it can monitor, communities’ engagements to be done and detail how activities will be carried out.  The objectives should be clear, measurable, and have a well-articulated timeline.
• The budget must be complete and reasonable in relation to the number of health facilities being monitored, communities to be covered, proposed activities and anticipated results, and the plan for services and related cost estimates must also be realistic. 

The Application Review process will be guided by the scoresheet below which has key elements with weighted scores. A total of 70 points is possible.

Sections

Score

Meet Eligibility Information (under C)

5

Responsive to the NOFO

10

Technical Proposal (following the guide under D1)

20

Implementation Plan

10

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

5

Related Experience

5

Budget

15

After rating, shortlisted applicants will be contacted and may be asked for an interview to provide additional information or clarification on portions of their application and may be asked to accommodate a site visit. The final list of applicants will be presented to an internal review panel for final selection. Applicants not selected will receive notification that they will not receive a grant.