U.S. Ambassador’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Small Grants Program Financial Year (FY) 2022

PEPFAR is recognized widely for efficiently and effectively investing U.S. taxpayer dollars to save millions of lives and change the course of the HIV pandemic. Through implementation of PEPFAR strategies and the use of data, PEPFAR constantly innovates to generate greater efficiencies, drive down costs, and increase impact. PEPFAR is a key partner and investor in the Malawi’s national response to combat HIV and AIDS. As part of this national response, the PSGP seeks to support projects that will work directly with communities to promote HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, treatment, and adherence practices. In 2022 PSGP focuses specifically on: promotion of health seeking behaviors and encouragement of back to care efforts; dissemination of accurate and authentic HIV public messages; solutions to stigma and discrimination; treatment literacy; and enhancing HIV prevention, care, and support. In 2021-2022, the U.S. Embassy supported six organizations across Malawi to implement projects that: strengthened linkages to health facilities for equitable access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services; promoted treatment adherence for people living with HIV; provided job skills training for women and girls living with HIV; and involved press to effectively cover HIV/AIDS issues. Program Objectives: Ensure Malawians, regardless of age and sex, are reached with appropriate messaging on testing, antiretroviral treatment, and those living with HIV/AIDS are virally suppressed. Expected Results Specific results could include the following: • Promoting heath seeking behaviors, increase demand for HIV services and mitigate barriers that contribute to treatment interruption. • Providing solutions to stigma and discrimination among people living with HIV and key populations. • Increasing treatment literacy. • Enhance HIV prevention, care, and support. Main Activities To achieve the goals and expected results, the program could include the following: • Support accurate and authentic public messages on HIV to address misinformation and increase treatment literacy. • Enhance community systems for the prevention of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and stigma discrimination against victims of SGBV. • Eliminate cultural and legal barriers that prevent equal access to health services. • Promote HIV prevention and encourage healthy living among HIV positive recipients of care by encouraging adherence, retention, and back to care efforts. • Promote household and community nutrition activities such as herbal gardens, and nutritious crops.