Providing targeted technical assistance (TA) to strengthen Botswana's implementation of sustainable and comprehensive HIV clinical and prevention services for adults and children under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has forecasted a cooperative agreement opportunity under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This program is focused on providing targeted technical assistance to strengthen Botswana’s implementation of sustainable and comprehensive HIV clinical and prevention services for adults and children. The anticipated funding opportunity aligns with PEPFAR’s global strategy of supporting partner countries to achieve and maintain HIV epidemic control by strengthening national health systems, ensuring continuity of care, and addressing prevention gaps. The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support Botswana in advancing its HIV care and treatment services. This includes improving case finding, strengthening targeted prevention efforts, increasing treatment coverage, enhancing continuity of care, and improving viral load suppression among both adults and children. The award will support interventions across critical areas such as advanced HIV disease management, TB screening and prevention among people living with HIV, cervical cancer prevention for women living with HIV, and the integration of HIV care within broader primary health care systems to ensure long-term sustainability. The scope of activities under this cooperative agreement is wide-ranging. Technical assistance will include support for comprehensive HIV care for adults, children, and adolescents; the strengthening of pediatric HIV data systems; and capacity building of healthcare providers to ensure high-quality delivery of services. The initiative also emphasizes innovative HIV prevention approaches, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), youth-responsive prevention programming, and violence prevention and response services for survivors. Furthermore, the program encourages the development and implementation of updated guidelines to sustain epidemic control and promote resilience within Botswana’s health system. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes a wide range of U.S.-based and international applicants. Eligible entities include state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, public housing authorities, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without IRS 501(c)(3) status, independent school districts, for-profit organizations including small businesses, and special district governments. The opportunity is designated as discretionary and is not restricted to a narrow set of applicants, allowing for diverse participation from various sectors capable of delivering technical assistance. The application process will be electronic and submitted through Grants.gov. Applications are expected to open on December 2, 2025, with a submission deadline of February 17, 2026, no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time. The estimated award date is September 30, 2026, with the project period beginning the same day. There are no indications of required pre-application submissions such as letters of intent or concept papers. Cost-sharing or matching is not required for this opportunity, simplifying participation for applicants. The CDC anticipates making up to three awards under this opportunity. While the opportunity notice lists award ceilings and floors as zero, it clarifies that the anticipated approximate total fiscal year funding amount for Year 1 is $750,000,000, subject to the availability of funds. This large funding pool reflects the high priority of sustaining epidemic control and scaling up evidence-based interventions in Botswana. Award recipients will be expected to work closely with the Government of Botswana, PEPFAR, and other partners to ensure alignment with national health strategies and global HIV targets. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor Grants.gov for updates, as this is currently a forecasted opportunity. The primary contact for questions is listed as DGHT NOFOs, with inquiries directed to pepfarfoas@cdc.gov. The archive date for the forecast is March 19, 2026, after which this specific announcement will no longer be accessible. Given the scale and scope of this opportunity, applicants with strong technical expertise in HIV prevention, treatment, and health systems strengthening are particularly well-positioned to apply.