Expanding Malawi HIV/AIDS Prevention with Local Organizations Working for an Effective Epidemic Response (EMPOWER)

EMPOWER is a five-year program with the goal of preventing new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections in targeted populations in PEPFAR priority districts in Malawi. EMPOWER will strive to increase use of proven, high impact, HIV prevention interventions by high-risk and underserved populations. A further objective is to identify undiagnosed HIV-infected persons (HIV case-finding) and link them to life-saving antiretroviral treatment (ART). Through EMPOWER, USAID plans to award up to five cooperative agreements to implement four related HIV prevention components: (1) Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC); (2) DREAMS Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) Services and HIV Case-Finding (3) Comprehensive Condom Programming (CCP). Up to two awards are anticipated to implement component 1 and one or more each to implement components 2, and 3. Multiple components could be combined under one larger award.