French donor L’Initiative publishes its annual calls for funding proposals, to close on 24 January 2022

Author:

Aidspan

Article Type:

Article Number: 5

ABSTRACT The French donor L’Initiative has just released its annual call for proposals in three thematic areas. Our article outlines these and explains to readers how they can be accessed.

Every year, the Initiative, a French technical assistance scheme, publishes its calls for funding proposals, of which there are three thematic areas. The closing date is 24 January 2022 at 12:00 Paris Time. In order to apply, applicants must request an access link to the ‘Cloud’, through which the proposal documents must be submitted, between 8 December 2021 and 19 January 2022. Requests for access links sent after 19 January 2022 will not be taken into consideration. The terms and conditions, or procedures, can be found in the rules of the calls for proposal

The 40 countries eligible for Initiative funding are:

The three calls for funding proposals are described on the Initiative’s website and must be catalytic, i.e., capable of changing practices and/or policies.

There are three categories for submission.

1. Strengthening health systems at all levels (community to national)

Under this category, L’Initiative will select projects that are complementary and/or supportive of the Global Fund investments. The proposed project must contribute to building or strengthening a health system that is gender-sensitive and enables beneficiaries to access quality services in accordance with the following four of the seven Strategic Objectives under Pillar Two of the Global Fund Strategy (2017-2022) “to build resilient and sustainable systems for health”. These are:

• Structural and sustainable improvements to health product management and supply systems.
• Sustainably strengthen the knowledge, skills, and practices of human resources for health to meet the needs of populations and health systems.
• Alignment of HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria control programs with sexual and reproductive health, maternal, child and adolescent health programs.
• Promoting and strengthening community systems and the involvement of communities in national decision-making processes.

For more information, visit the Initiative’s website:

https://www.initiative5pour100.fr/en/projet/2022-strengthening-health-systems-all-levels-community-national

2. Strengthening the role of key and vulnerable populations (KVPs) in relation to HIV, TB, and/or malaria to improve their health and well-being:

The Initiative is looking for projects that complement and/or support Global Fund investments to promote working for and with KVPs and to strengthen their role in improving their health status and well-being. The Initiative encourages:

• The implementation of gender-sensitive advocacy and empowerment strategies for the promotion of KVPs’ human rights and better access to health services.
• Improved quality of and access to health services by and for KVPs through appropriate, gender-sensitive, and community-integrated programs and strategies.

For more information, visit the Initiative’s website: https://www.initiative5pour100.fr/projet/2022-renforcement-du-role-des-populations-cles-et-vulnerables-vis-vis-du-vih-de-tuberculose-etou

3. Operational research on ‘HIV, HPV and related cancers’

This call for proposals aims at supporting operational research projects to test innovative strategies to improve access to and the quality and efficiency of prevention, early diagnosis, and management of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers in people living with HIV (PLHIV).

In this context, the proposals should:

• Ensure the widespread integration of HPV screening and early management of precancerous lesions in sexual and reproductive health consultations, as well as in routine follow-up for PLHIV.
• Ensure the widespread introduction of diagnostic tests based on the most promising new technologies (molecular tests, other new tests, and self-sampling devices, point of care).
• Assess the feasibility of different management methods for all cancers associated with HPV (laser, thermal ablation, cryotherapy, etc.) in a decentralized context.
• Promote the HPV vaccination among adolescents and young adults, and particularly among key populations (men who have sex with men, sex workers).

For more information, visit the Initiative’s website: https://www.initiative5pour100.fr/projet/2022-recherche-operationnelle-vih-vph-et-cancers-associes

The best of luck to all applying!