U.S. Ambassador’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Small Grants Program Financial Year (FY) 2021 - 022

The U.S. Embassy Lilongwe at the U.S. Department of State (DOS), announces this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for U.S. Ambassador’s PEPFAR Small Grants Program (PSGP). Grants for up to $15,000 each in FY 2021 PEPFAR funds (Country Operational Plan 2019 State/PRM 12115) will be awarded for work that will support Government of Malawi’s (GoM’s) national response to combat HIV and AIDS. The period of performance is twelve (12) months. Funding authority rests in the PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act of 2013 (P.L. 113-56), as amended. 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 GoM’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 2020-2021, PSGP focused 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. 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 and encourage back to care efforts for defaulters; Disseminating accurate and authentic HIV public messages; Providing solutions to stigma and discrimination; Increasing treatment literacy; and Enhancing 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; and Promote household and community nutrition activities such as herbal gardens, and nutritious crops.