NICKSON MABERI
KAMPALA, JUNE 8 – The PEPFAR Uganda Small Grants Office has announced the availability of funding through its Community Grants to Combat HIV/AIDS Program. The funding opportunity, which is open for proposals, was announced on June 8 and the application deadline is July 31. This comes in the wake of the Ugandan Parliament passing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023, which has been criticized by the United States as one of the most extreme anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the world, leading to the possibility of economic sanctions against Uganda.
The PEPFAR Uganda Community Grants to Combat HIV/AIDS Program is seeking proposals that contribute to various objectives. These include promoting HIV/AIDS prevention, addressing stigma, discrimination, and gender-based violence (GBV), promoting capacity building, strengthening democracy and governance related to the national HIV response, creating demand for voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) services, and promoting care, treatment, and adherence to treatment for beneficiaries, the U.S. Mission Uganda announced in a tweet on June 8.
The targeted beneficiaries of the PEPFAR Uganda Community Grants to Combat HIV/AIDS Program include Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW), Faith-Based Communities, Key Populations (KPs), Men and Young Males (MYMs), Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs), People Living with HIV (PLHIV), and People with Disabilities (PWDs). Non-profit Ugandan organizations such as Community Based Organizations (CBO), Faith Based Organizations (FBO), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) are welcome to apply for the grants.
PEPFAR, which stands for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, is a global program aimed at providing treatment, prevention, and care for individuals living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. The program focuses on areas such as care and treatment, prevention, impact mitigation, and health systems strengthening.
The PEPFAR Uganda Community Grants Program aims to support local grassroots community organizations in implementing projects that promote HIV/AIDS prevention and provide care and support. Each beneficiary group has specific areas of focus within the program. For example, projects targeting Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) should address issues such as gender equality, education, financial empowerment, family planning, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.
Applications geared towards faith-based communities should emphasize building interfaith connections, countering misinformation, addressing gender equality, and providing education and support related to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. Key Populations (KPs) projects should focus on increasing access to health services, combating stigma and discrimination, and promoting basic human rights.
The program also recognizes the need to address the specific challenges faced by men and young males in Uganda. Grants in this area could include sexual violence prevention, HIV/AIDS prevention, referrals for HIV testing, and targeted interventions for uniformed men, prisoners, truck drivers, boda boda drivers, and fisherfolk.
Projects targeting Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) should prioritize family-centered activities that address the impact of HIV/AIDS on children and adolescents, including meeting their basic needs, preventing HIV/AIDS, and reducing gender-based violence. Additionally, the program encourages projects focused on People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and People with Disabilities (PWDs) to promote linkage to treatment, mental health services, income-generating activities, and reducing stigma.
The PEPFAR Uganda Community Grants Program prioritizes projects that contribute to adolescent-friendly sexual education, job skills training for women and girls living with HIV, religious leader training programs, and interfaith networks. Other areas of focus include increasing access to health services for key populations, education and cultural programs for HIV prevention, positive parenting, adherence support groups, and the use of technology and social media for targeted outreach.
Projects based outside of Kampala and Wakiso are particularly encouraged to apply, as the program aims to reach communities beyond the capital city.
The PEPFAR Uganda Small Grants Office invites registered non-profit Ugandan organizations to submit their proposals and contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS in Uganda. The grants offer an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals and communities affected by the disease.