Lesotho: PEPFAR Small Grants Community-Led Monitoring Program 2024

Deadline: 28-Apr-23

U.S. Embassy Maseru Special Projects Office announces an open competition for local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Community groups and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to submit applications to implement a Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) program.

CLM is a technique initiated and implemented by local community-based organizations and other civil society groups, networks of key populations (KP), people living with HIV (PLHIV), and other affected groups, or other community entities that gather quantitative and qualitative data about HIV services. The CLM focus remains on getting input from recipients of HIV services in a routine and systematic manner that intends to inform action and improvements.

In alignment with PEPFAR Country Operational Plan, CLM activities are required to ensure explicit focus on Key Populations. This does not mean KPs are the only focus on CLM activities, but rather they must be included. Key Populations include men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers, people who inject drugs, and people in prisons and other enclosed settings.

The CLM program is funded through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), in support of the Ministry of Health’s effort to achieve HIV epidemic control through the implementation of evidence-based and client-centered interventions to accelerate progress in HIV prevention, care, and treatment.

Goal

• The goal of the CLM program is to help PEPFAR programs and health institutions identify persistent problems, challenges, and barriers to effective service and client outcomes at the site level to formulate workable solutions that overcome these barriers and ensure beneficiaries have access to quality services.

Objectives

• The objective of the CLM program is to facilitate participation of local CSO groups in the evaluation of HIV services, identify areas for improvement, advocate for change, guide the health care providers to incorporate monitoring as part of their routine activities, and sensitize the facility feedback tool among PLHIV groups.
• Each grant will implement the CLM activities at public health facilities (run by either Government of Lesotho and/or Christian Health Association of Lesotho) and communities, with specific guidance regarding district and health facility coverage. Additionally, local organizations that receive grants will conduct facility exit interviews and facility/community interfaces and dialogues as per the CLM implementation guidance. Based on the data collected, findings will be collated and disseminated to all relevant stakeholders such as, health facilities, DHMTs, the MOH and CSOs.
• Training and Technical Assistance (TA) will be provided to organizations selected for these awards. A capacity building and coordination organization will be engaged to train, support, and equip selected grantees on CLM principles and tools, data collection and reporting, advocacy, grant management, and customized TA support based on individual capacity assessments to be done. The capacity building and coordination organization will directly work with the selected grantees to coordinate the program implementation.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $200,000
• Award Ceiling: $20,000
• Award Floor: $10,000

Eligibility Criteria

• Community-based organizations and other civil society groups; networks of key populations, people living with HIV and other affected groups; or other entities that gather data and observations about components of HIV services, with a focus on getting input from recipients of HIV services.
• All applicants must be legally registered and have been in operation for at least one year to be eligible for funding.
• Being a community led or KP led group with primary mandate of HIV/Health will be an added advantage.
• Organizations must be able to demonstrate that they have adequate internal controls and financial monitoring procedures in place.
• Organizations should demonstrate strong ties and support in the local community and with local governmental authorities. Please note that organizations currently funded by PEPFAR to deliver health services either in the community or at health facilities are prohibited from applying for this grant.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.