"HIV Care and Treatment Services in the Dukwi Refugee Camp – Botswana under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)” | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?

This opportunity supports the expansion and long-term sustainability of comprehensive HIV care and treatment services for refugees and other camp-connected populations living in and around Dukwi Refugee Camp in Botswana. The intent is to make sure people living with HIV in a humanitarian setting can access high-quality services comparable to those available in stable national health systems, while addressing camp-specific barriers such as mobility, stigma, documentation concerns, and limited on-site clinical capacity.

2) What is the official title of the opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "HIV Care and Treatment Services in the Dukwi Refugee Camp - Botswana under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)."

3) Who is the funding initiative behind this award?

The award is positioned under PEPFAR, the United States government initiative focused on addressing the global HIV epidemic.

4) Which U.S. agency is associated with the opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), specifically the Center for Global Health (CGH) and the Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT) in Botswana.

5) Where will the supported activities take place?

Activities are focused on Dukwi Refugee Camp in Botswana and, as described, may include refugees and other populations connected to the camp living in and around the camp area.

6) Who is intended to benefit from the funded services?

The primary intended beneficiaries are people living with HIV within the Dukwi Refugee Camp context, including refugees and other camp-connected populations. The scope also commonly includes partners and families who may need testing and prevention services, and potentially pregnant and breastfeeding women and HIV-exposed infants if PMTCT needs are present.

7) What does "comprehensive HIV care and treatment" mean in this context?

It generally refers to the full continuum of services: HIV testing and case finding, rapid linkage to care, initiation and maintenance of antiretroviral therapy (ART), routine monitoring and clinical follow-up, management of opportunistic infections and common co-morbidities, adherence counseling, retention support, and viral load monitoring with clinical response for unsuppressed results.

8) Is HIV testing part of the expected scope?

Yes. The description highlights HIV testing services, case finding, and identifying people who are not yet in care as core parts of the continuum in a camp environment.

9) How important is rapid linkage to care and ART initiation?

Rapid linkage and faster ART initiation are described as intended end results. Programs are expected to help people move quickly from diagnosis to enrollment in care and starting or continuing effective ART.

10) What clinical standards or guidelines should services align with?

Clinical services are generally expected to align with Botswana national HIV guidelines and PEPFAR technical standards, including expectations for monitoring, adherence support, and quality of care.

11) What role does viral load monitoring play in the program?

Viral load monitoring is emphasized as a key component of PEPFAR-funded treatment programs. The scope often includes ensuring access to lab services, timely return of results, and clinical action when viral load is unsuppressed (for example, enhanced adherence counseling and regimen changes when indicated).

12) What is meant by "retention support" in a refugee camp setting?

Retention support refers to helping patients stay engaged in care and continue ART over time. In a camp setting, this can include follow-up systems, appointment support, tailored adherence counseling, and approaches designed to prevent treatment interruptions caused by mobility, stigma, or other access barriers.

13) Are community outreach and community-based approaches expected?

Yes. The description notes that camp settings often require outreach and community-based strategies to identify people not in care, re-engage those who have fallen out of care, and reduce access barriers that limit use of facility-based services alone.

14) What is "differentiated service delivery" and how might it apply here?

Differentiated service delivery generally means tailoring how services are delivered based on client needs and stability on treatment. Examples mentioned include multi-month dispensing of ART when feasible, less frequent visits for stable patients, and more targeted support for people at higher risk of treatment interruption.

15) Which groups may need additional or targeted support under this award?

The description highlights groups commonly at higher risk of interruption or barriers to care in camp settings, including new arrivals, people with uncertain legal status, adolescents and young adults, and individuals facing language or cultural barriers. It also references support needs for survivors of sexual violence and other groups facing heightened risk.

16) How does the program address movement into and out of the camp?

Continuity of care is described as important due to mobility. Operational elements may include transfer documentation, coordination with surrounding health facilities, and systems to help clients continue treatment if they move.

17) Are prevention services included, or is this only about treatment?

Prevention and public health components are described as typically embedded. These may include prevention counseling, condom availability and risk-reduction services, partner and family testing, and integration with sexual and reproductive health where appropriate.

18) Does the opportunity include prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT)?

PMTCT is described as potentially relevant depending on the camp population. If applicable, expected elements may include identifying pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV early, supporting effective ART and retention, infant prophylaxis, early infant diagnosis, and follow-up for HIV-exposed infants.

19) What kinds of referral networks are expected?

The program design often needs clear referral networks for services not provided on-site. Examples mentioned include advanced clinical management, TB diagnostic services, maternal and child health services, mental health care, and specialized laboratory testing, along with mechanisms to follow up referrals and confirm service receipt.

20) How does health systems strengthening fit into this award?

Health systems strengthening and quality improvement are described as important components, especially in a camp setting where services may depend on camp clinics, district structures, and partner-supported staff. The recipient is commonly expected to strengthen capacity through training, mentorship, standard operating procedures, and quality improvement cycles.

21) What operational areas may the implementing partner need to strengthen?

Common operational needs described include infection prevention and control, pharmacy and supply chain management to avoid ART stockouts, patient flow and appointment systems, and building workforce and program management capacity.

22) What data and reporting expectations are implied by PEPFAR?

Routine monitoring and reporting are central. PEPFAR requires regular reporting on key outcomes such as testing, treatment, retention, and viral load. In a camp setting, this also includes maintaining confidential records while ensuring data can be aggregated and aligned with national reporting systems.

23) How are confidentiality and protection considerations addressed in a refugee camp context?

The description notes the need to maintain confidential records and to coordinate in ways that reduce barriers and avoid increasing stigma or risk for clients. It also references legal and documentation concerns as a camp-specific barrier that programs may need to navigate through appropriate coordination.

24) What coordination is typically required to implement this program effectively?

Close collaboration is typically required with the Government of Botswana health authorities, camp administration, and humanitarian stakeholders, while aligning services with national HIV policies and PEPFAR strategies. Coordination with refugee protection and service agencies may also be necessary to reduce access barriers and protect clients.

25) What are the main outcomes the award is trying to achieve?

Intended end results include increased identification of people living with HIV in the camp community, faster linkage and ART initiation, higher retention in care, improved adherence support, and high rates of viral suppression. The opportunity also aims to strengthen systems such as supply continuity, workforce capacity, and reliable program data.

26) Does this opportunity specify eligibility, funding amount, or period of performance?

Those details are not provided in the information shared here. The description indicates that if the full source notice is provided, the summary could be tightened to include eligibility rules, anticipated funding amount, period of performance, required deliverables, and evaluation/reporting requirements.

27) What additional details would help clarify application requirements?

The full source notice (including any "complete source data" section) would help identify specific eligibility criteria, the anticipated award size, performance period, required activities and deliverables, and any special evaluation or reporting requirements.