Strengthening the national HIV care and treatment program in Sierra Leone (SL) to accelerate the response to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic as a public health threat by 2030, under the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

The Notice of Funding Opportunity titled "Strengthening the National HIV Care and Treatment Program in Sierra Leone to Accelerate the Response to End the HIV/AIDS Pandemic as a Public Health Threat by 2030 Under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)" (CDC-RFA-JG-25-0060) seeks to improve and expand access to HIV prevention, care, and treatment services in Sierra Leone. The program will focus on strengthening health systems, improving service delivery for key and general populations, enhancing workforce capacity, and optimizing data monitoring and evaluation systems. This initiative aligns with the global 95-95-95 targets set by UNAIDS to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, aiming for 95 percent of people living with HIV to know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed to be on treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression. The funding will support person-centered HIV services, including community-based testing, differentiated service delivery, pediatric HIV treatment, and care for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Additional priorities include capacity building for healthcare workers through mentorship programs, strengthening data systems for monitoring and evaluation, and improving the management of advanced HIV disease. The program also emphasizes continuous quality improvement at health facilities, addressing gaps in viral load testing coverage, reducing stigma, and increasing treatment adherence among vulnerable populations. Target groups include female sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, adolescent girls, young women, children, and general populations, including adults and people living with HIV. The total expected funding for year one is twelve million dollars, with one award anticipated. The project will operate over five years in annual budget periods, contingent upon performance and availability of funds. Applicants are required to design their proposals to include six funding components that align activities with quarterly targets and allow flexibility to address emerging public health priorities. Priority will be given to local organizations that meet the PEPFAR local partner definition, with 30 additional merit points awarded during the review process for eligible applicants. Eligibility for this opportunity is unrestricted, including state and local governments, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, academic institutions, small businesses, tribal entities, and foreign-based organizations. Projects must be conducted in Sierra Leone, and applications must meet specific criteria, such as staying within a 20-page project narrative limit, providing a detailed work plan, and adhering to budget requirements. Applications that exceed limits or fail to meet submission guidelines will be deemed nonresponsive. Proposals must include an evaluation and performance measurement plan, a data management plan, financial capability statements, and resumes or job descriptions for key personnel. Applications are due by February 24, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time through Grants.gov. The review process includes an initial responsiveness check, followed by a merit review scoring applicants on their approach, organizational capacity, and monitoring and evaluation plans. Final selection will consider merit review scores, funding preferences for local partners, and programmatic priorities. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of August 2025, and projects are expected to begin on September 30, 2025. Post-award requirements include regular reporting on performance, expenditures, and key program indicators. Recipients must allocate ten percent of their budget to monitoring and five percent to evaluation activities. Program outcomes will be measured through PEPFAR Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting indicators, including HIV testing coverage, treatment retention, viral suppression rates, and prevention outcomes for key populations. The CDC will conduct routine monitoring, site visits, and quality assessments to ensure program performance, sustainability, and alignment with national HIV strategies in Sierra Leone.