Implementation of integrated, resilient, and sustainable health systems for HIV/TB epidemic control in the Republic of Kenya under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under opportunity number CDC-RFA-JG-25-0088 outlines a funding initiative to strengthen integrated, resilient, and sustainable health systems for HIV/TB epidemic control in Kenya. It focuses on aligning with the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) vision, and the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. This program emphasizes building country-led capacities at national and county levels to enhance leadership, governance, health financing, human resources for health (HRH), and supply chain management systems. The program promotes the integration of HIV/TB services into broader health systems to increase efficiency and sustainability. Its approach involves leveraging partnerships with local entities and global stakeholders while emphasizing equity and sustainability. The primary objective is to create strong health systems that can manage HIV/TB services while preparing for emerging health threats and advancing UHC. Expected outcomes include a nationally led HIV/TB program, sustained access to medical commodities, and improved capacity for public health responses. The NOFO outlines four main strategies: strengthening governance, ensuring sustainable health financing, managing HRH efficiently, and improving supply chain systems. It also targets technical support for Kenya’s Ministry of Health (MOH) and national efforts to enhance health financing mechanisms and service delivery models. The total funding for the first year is anticipated at $6 million, distributed among one to two awards. The five-year period includes annual budget cycles contingent on satisfactory progress, alignment with federal priorities, and the availability of funds. Eligible applicants include a broad range of entities such as governments, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, and foreign-based organizations. Applicants must conduct their projects in Kenya and demonstrate alignment with the NOFO’s objectives and strategies. Applications are due by February 19, 2025, and must be submitted via Grants.gov. Key submission components include a project narrative (up to 20 pages), budget narrative, work plan, and required attachments like organizational charts, financial capability statements, and experience documentation. The project narrative should detail the applicant’s approach, expected outcomes, collaborations, and plans for data management and evaluation. Applications must also comply with CDC formatting standards, including using PDF, Word, or Excel formats and adhering to specified font and margin requirements. Merit reviews will evaluate applications based on three criteria: the proposed approach (40 points), organizational capacity (35 points), and data monitoring and evaluation plans (25 points). Additional points will be awarded to applications demonstrating adherence to PEPFAR’s local partner preference criteria. The final funding decision will also consider risk reviews, and awards are expected to be announced by the end of August 2025, with projects beginning in late September 2025. The program requires detailed reporting, including annual performance updates, financial statements, and evaluations aligned with PEPFAR’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) standards. Additionally, recipients must ensure transparency, data quality, and stakeholder collaboration throughout the project lifecycle. This NOFO represents a significant opportunity to enhance Kenya’s healthcare systems and address critical public health challenges.