Program Expansion Supplement for Engaging Local Indigenous Partners in the Implementation and Expansion of High Quality HIV Care, Prevention and Treatment Activities in Faith-Based, Affiliated Sites in the Republic of Kenya under PEPFAR | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Program Expansion Supplement for Engaging Local Indigenous Partners in the Implementation and Expansion of High Quality HIV Care, Prevention and Treatment Activities in Faith-Based, Affiliated Sites in the Republic of Kenya under PEPFAR."

2) Who is offering this funding?

This is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discretionary funding opportunity administered through CDCs Center for Global Health.

3) What funding mechanism is being used?

The award uses a cooperative agreement mechanism. This typically means CDC expects substantial involvement during implementation, such as technical collaboration, joint planning, and performance monitoring rather than a fully hands-off grant.

4) What is PEPFAR and how does it relate to this opportunity?

This program is under PEPFAR (the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), led by the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. The opportunity supports HIV prevention, care, and treatment activities in Kenya consistent with PEPFAR priorities.

5) What is the main purpose of this supplement?

The purpose is to strengthen and expand high-quality HIV services in Kenya by directly supporting local Kenyan indigenous organizations with both funding and technical assistance so they can continue delivering and then scale up comprehensive HIV prevention, care, and antiretroviral treatment (ART) services, especially in Faith-Based Organization (FBO) affiliated health sites.

6) What does "local Kenyan indigenous organizations" mean in this context?

Based on the narrative, the intended recipients are local organizations in Kenya positioned to lead implementation and expansion of HIV services. The opportunity emphasizes shifting and strengthening implementation leadership toward Kenyan indigenous partners.

7) What types of sites are a priority for implementation?

The opportunity places particular focus on Faith-Based Organization (FBO) affiliated health sites in the Republic of Kenya.

8) What are the key program outcomes this funding aims to support?

The priority outcomes span the full HIV continuum, including prevention (confidential counseling and testing linked to behavior change interventions, and reducing mother-to-child transmission), care and treatment (clinical management, lab capacity, opportunistic infections and co-infections like TB, and ART initiation/support for adults and children), and health systems/data (surveillance and improved data collection and use for program management, plus laboratory support for diagnosis, monitoring, and blood safety screening).

9) What HIV prevention activities are highlighted?

Highlighted prevention activities include expanding confidential counseling and testing with evidence-based behavior change interventions, strong efforts to reduce mother-to-child transmission, and strategies to increase case finding and earlier linkage to care (including provider-initiated testing and counseling).

10) What HIV care and treatment activities are emphasized?

The opportunity supports improving clinical management of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), strengthening laboratory diagnostic capacity, addressing opportunistic infections, responding to co-infections and intercurrent diseases (especially tuberculosis), and expanding ART initiation and treatment support for both pediatric and adult patients.

11) Is TB/HIV integration included in the scope?

Yes. The announcement repeatedly emphasizes integration where it improves delivery, including linking HIV services with TB screening and addressing TB as a major co-infection affecting people living with HIV. TB/HIV testing and treatment are specifically listed as example activities.

12) What role do data systems and surveillance play in this award?

Strengthening surveillance and the ability to collect and use data for program management are core elements. The opportunity references HIV/STI/TB surveillance, and laboratory support for diagnosis, monitoring, and blood safety screening.

13) Are laboratory services part of the allowable activities?

Yes. The opportunity supports strengthening laboratory diagnostic capacity and laboratory support for diagnosis, monitoring, and blood safety screening as part of improving overall HIV program performance.

14) Does the opportunity support applied learning or evaluation?

Yes. It allows for applied public health learning, including developing, validating, and evaluating interventions so programs can be improved and better targeted based on evidence.

15) What specific examples of allowable activities are named?

Examples listed include PMTCT services, TB/HIV testing and treatment, pediatric and adult HIV care and treatment, nutrition support linked to HIV care, prevention with positives, post-exposure prophylaxis, voluntary medical male circumcision, behavior change interventions, and HIV counseling and testing (including provider-initiated testing and counseling).

16) Is nutrition support an eligible activity?

Yes. Nutrition support linked to HIV care is specifically named as an example activity.

17) Does the scope include services for preventing onward transmission among people living with HIV?

Yes. "Prevention with positives" is explicitly mentioned, referring to services intended to reduce onward transmission among people living with HIV.

18) Can post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) be supported?

Yes. Post-exposure prophylaxis is listed as an example of an allowable activity.

19) Is voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) included?

Yes. Voluntary medical male circumcision is listed among the example interventions.

20) How does the opportunity address mother-to-child transmission?

Reducing mother-to-child transmission is highlighted as a major prevention priority, and PMTCT services are specifically included as example activities.

21) How is sustainability addressed in the program design?

A major emphasis is sustainability and long-term local capacity building. The award is meant to strengthen Kenyan indigenous partners so services remain strong beyond short-term external support.

22) Are applicants expected to align activities with Kenyas national HIV strategy?

Yes. Activities are expected to align with Kenyas national HIV plans and to be coordinated with the Ministry of Health and other Government of Kenya institutions, as well as other international and U.S. Government supported programs.

23) How important is coordination and avoiding duplication of effort?

Coordination is a key requirement. The opportunity emphasizes avoiding duplication of effort, implying applicants should show coordination mechanisms, referral linkages, and complementary service coverage rather than creating parallel systems.

24) Does the award encourage integration with other health services?

Yes. The announcement stresses integration across program areas when it improves service delivery, such as linking HIV testing with TB screening, maternal services, or clinical care pathways.

25) Can the program include work on non-HIV health priorities?

The announcement signals flexibility to support related health priorities when they strengthen overall patient care and public health impact. Examples listed include malaria, emerging and re-emerging infections, neglected tropical diseases, influenza and other pandemic threats, environmental health, chronic diseases, maternal and child health, reproductive health, public health preparedness, biosafety, and injury control and prevention. This flexibility does not replace the HIV mission of the award.

26) What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?

The funding opportunity number is CDC RFA GH11-1103-05-02SUPP16, and the CFDA number is 93.067.

27) How many awards are expected and what is the maximum award amount?

The posting indicates an expected single award, with an award ceiling of $2,400,000.

28) What was the application deadline listed in the posting?

The original closing date listed is September 27, 2016. Electronic submissions were due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.

29) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice. However, the narrative focus makes clear the intended recipients are local Kenyan indigenous organizations positioned to lead implementation and expand services within FBO-affiliated sites while coordinating closely with national and partner systems.

30) What country is the program intended to support?

The activities are intended for implementation in the Republic of Kenya.

31) What is the overall goal of the opportunity in plain terms?

Overall, it is a targeted supplement to shift and strengthen implementation leadership toward Kenyan indigenous partners, expand high-impact HIV prevention and treatment interventions in faith-based affiliated service platforms, and reinforce the data, laboratory, and program management functions needed for sustained, high-quality HIV service delivery under PEPFAR in Kenya.