HIV Services for Key Populations Affected by HIV/AIDS | 72038618RFA00001

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72038618RFA00001

USAID/India is offering a discretionary health funding opportunity titled "HIV Services for Key Populations Affected by HIV/AIDS" (Funding Opportunity Number 72038618RFA00001) through a Cooperative Agreement mechanism. The agency is seeking concept papers and full applications from qualified organizations to run a five-year program designed to quickly test, demonstrate, and evaluate practical service delivery models for HIV prevention, care, and treatment among key populations (often abbreviated as KPs) that are disproportionately affected by HIV. A central emphasis is reaching not only members of key populations themselves, but also their partners, spouses, and children, recognizing that HIV risk, prevention, and treatment needs often extend across households and close networks.

The core purpose of the activity is to identify and scale approaches that measurably improve how HIV services are accessed and used. The program is expected to develop and assess "efficient and effective models" that increase accessibility (how easily people can obtain services), availability (whether services are offered where and when needed), and demand (whether people feel safe, motivated, and supported to seek services). The opportunity highlights the need for high-quality, comprehensive services spanning prevention, clinical care, and treatment, which typically implies stronger linkage across the HIV cascade, from outreach and testing to rapid initiation of treatment and long-term retention in care. While the announcement does not list specific interventions, the language points toward models that can be implemented quickly, measured rigorously, and adjusted based on real-time learning.

A major theme in the opportunity is improving the systems and enabling environment that shape whether key populations can actually benefit from HIV and related social services. That includes reducing barriers faced by stigmatized or criminalized groups and improving service delivery conditions so that key populations, especially hard-to-reach individuals, can obtain equitable access without discrimination. In practical terms, "strengthening systems" often involves improving referral networks, coordination among service providers, data use for performance management, and service quality assurance. "Enabling environment" typically refers to community-level and institutional factors such as stigma, safety, confidentiality, and the degree to which services are trusted and acceptable to clients. The solicitation makes clear that these structural and service-delivery improvements are not side activities; they are integral to achieving equitable access and stronger outcomes.

Funding is estimated at up to $20,000,000 total over five years, with an award ceiling of $20,000,000 and an expectation of one award. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full announcement. The opportunity is administered by the Agency for International Development, India (USAID-New Delhi) under CFDA 98.001. Key dates provided indicate the opportunity was created on March 6, 2018, with an original closing date of May 7, 2018. Overall, the grant is positioned as results-oriented assistance aimed at quickly generating evidence on what works for delivering HIV services to key populations and their families, and then using that evidence to improve access, quality, and uptake at scale.

• The Agency for International Development, India USAID-New Delhi in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HIV Services for Key Populations Affected by HIV/AIDS" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 06, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 07, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for 72038618RFA00001

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