Planning, Implementation and Evaluation of Comprehensive HIV Prevention Programs in the Republic of South Africa under PEPFAR | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?

The opportunity is titled "Planning, Implementation and Evaluation of Comprehensive HIV Prevention Programs in the Republic of South Africa under PEPFAR." The Funding Opportunity Number is CDC RFA GH11-1152SUPP16.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This is offered by HHS/CDC (the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) as part of PEPFAR programming.

What type of award is this?

The award instrument is a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates substantial CDC involvement beyond standard grant oversight, such as ongoing collaboration, shared planning, and close performance monitoring.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 93.067.

What is the application closing date?

The application closing date shown is March 8, 2016.

Is this opportunity open to the public or broadly competitive?

No. The opportunity is limited to a defined set of pre-identified eligible applicants rather than being open competition.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to six organizations named in the announcement: AFSA (GH000233), PSI (GH000243), Shout it Now (GH000285), CMT (GH000293), Soul City (GH000294), and TB/HIV Care (GH000306).

How many awards does CDC anticipate making?

The FOA anticipates six awards, which aligns with the six eligible organizations listed.

Is there an award ceiling listed?

An award ceiling is not specified in the posted information provided for this opportunity.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The central purpose is to fund planning, implementation, and evaluation activities supporting the DREAMS initiative to expand comprehensive HIV prevention programming in South Africa under PEPFAR.

What does DREAMS stand for?

DREAMS stands for Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe.

When was the DREAMS initiative launched and who partnered in it?

DREAMS was launched in 2015 as a USD 210 million partnership involving PEPFAR, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Nike Foundation.

What population is DREAMS primarily designed to support?

The initiative focuses on reducing new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), with the FOA highlighting near-term impact goals for AGYW aged 15 to 24.

What is the overall public health aim of DREAMS in this FOA?

The overall aim is to reduce new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women by implementing a combination of interventions rather than relying on a single program approach.

Does DREAMS focus only on clinical or health-sector services?

No. A defining feature described in the opportunity is that DREAMS goes beyond clinical or health-sector services alone and includes layered, evidence-based interventions that also address structural and social drivers of HIV vulnerability.

What structural and social drivers are explicitly highlighted?

The announcement highlights drivers such as poverty, gender inequality, sexual violence, and limited access to education.

In which country and geographic areas will activities take place?

Activities are in the Republic of South Africa, targeting five priority districts: eThekwini, uMgungundlovu, and uMkhanyakude in KwaZulu-Natal, and the City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni in Gauteng.

How are the priority districts further defined for implementation?

Across the five districts there are 31 sub-districts, and DREAMS concentrates resources in 19 sub-districts identified as high burden and high transmission areas.

What is meant by a "high-impact strategy" in this FOA?

Based on the information provided, it refers to directing prevention resources to the locations where HIV incidence and transmission risk are most concentrated among adolescent girls and young women.

What are the major program pillars described for DREAMS activities?

The objectives are organized into four broad pillars: empowering girls and young women, mobilizing communities, strengthening families, and providing social protection.

What does a "comprehensive" prevention model mean in the context of this FOA?

It means pairing direct support to adolescent girls and young women with community norms change, household and caregiver engagement, and practical protections intended to reduce vulnerability over time.

What near-term HIV impact targets are referenced for AGYW ages 15 to 24?

The FOA supports DREAMS targets to reduce new HIV infections in this group by 25% by the end of 2016 and by 40% by the end of 2017.

Does the opportunity connect HIV prevention to other adolescent wellbeing outcomes?

Yes. It emphasizes improvements understood to reduce HIV risk over time, including increased secondary school enrollment, attendance, and completion, as well as reductions in violence and unintended pregnancy.

What kinds of outcomes beyond HIV incidence are explicitly mentioned?

The announcement mentions schooling outcomes (enrollment, attendance, completion) and reductions in violence and unintended pregnancy as emphasized outcomes alongside HIV prevention.

What is the expected approach to programming under this FOA?

The approach described is a multi-sector, layered package of evidence-based interventions that address both immediate HIV risk and the broader conditions that shape risk over time.

What is the relationship between this FOA and PEPFAR?

The FOA is part of PEPFAR programming and supports implementation of DREAMS within the broader PEPFAR context in South Africa.

What is meant by "planning, implementation, and evaluation" in the title?

Based on the description provided, the funding is intended to support selected implementing partners to plan, deliver, and evaluate the DREAMS package of interventions in the identified priority districts and sub-districts.