PEPFAR Botswana Community Led-Monitoring (CLM) Program | PEPFAR GABORONE AF CLM GR 22 23

Opportunity Information: Apply for PEPFAR GABORONE AF CLM GR 22 23

The PEPFAR Botswana Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) Program is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity run through the U.S. Embassy in Gaborone and the PEPFAR Botswana Coordination Office. It funds local, key population (KP)-led or KP-competent civil society organizations to monitor the real-world quality and accessibility of HIV and related health services for KPs in Botswana. In this context, KPs include gay and other men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), sex workers, and transgender people (both male- and female-identifying). The bigger purpose is to help Botswana reach HIV epidemic control by strengthening client-centered services, especially in the areas where KP clients often experience barriers that make it harder to test, link to treatment, stay on lifelong ART, and reach viral suppression.

At the center of the program is the idea of a structured feedback loop that is led by community members themselves. The goal is not simply to collect complaints, but to consistently gather evidence from clients and beneficiaries throughout their service experience, pinpoint recurring problems, and then work with facilities, service providers, and managers to agree on practical corrective actions and track whether those fixes actually happen. The program emphasizes that HIV services work better when communities are involved in defining what quality looks like and when clients have a safe, organized way to surface issues like stigma, confidentiality concerns, poor service readiness, weak referral systems, stock-outs, long waits, or unfriendly treatment that reduces uptake and retention. In practice, the CLM approach uses both quantitative and qualitative information collected through standardized tools (noted as developed with support from ITPC Global), then synthesizes findings so they can be acted on at local, district, and national levels.

The opportunity builds on an existing CLM effort in Botswana where local grantees have already created and supported diverse monitoring groups made up of people who use services and represent different constituencies. Those groups have included people living with HIV, people with disabilities, youth groups (including adolescent girls and young women), KP members, DREAMS ambassadors, PrEP ambassadors, and ART champions, with an emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and balance across gender and age. Applicants are expected to form and train similar monitoring structures in selected districts, run ongoing data collection and analysis, and translate findings into follow-up actions that are jointly discussed with providers and facility leadership. A key expectation is that community representatives are not sidelined after data collection; they participate in problem-solving, agreement on action steps, and checking whether promised changes are implemented.

Geographically, the current CLM program has covered specific facilities in 10 of Botswana’s 27 districts, including Francistown, Greater Gaborone, Kgatleng, Kweneng East, Lobatse, Moshupa, Palapye, Selibe Phikwe, and Serowe (as listed in the notice). The NOFO signals a clear need to expand CLM coverage into additional priority districts for KP programming, specifically naming Boteti, Kasane, Mahalapye, and Ngamiland as places applicants may consider. The scope of monitoring within a district can vary depending on what the community groups decide in consultation with the grantee and PEPFAR, ranging from PEPFAR-supported sites only to broader coverage of all facilities and service points in a district.

A notable expansion in this funding round is the push to monitor not only Government of Botswana facilities, but also KP-focused services implemented by PEPFAR-supported CSOs/NGOs and the private sector. That includes the full HIV cascade in community, facility, and virtual settings: prevention (including PrEP), testing, linkage to ART, and support for sustained viral suppression. Applications that assess KP services in both public facilities and NGO/community partner service points are prioritized, and applications that cover services relevant to all KP communities in Botswana are also prioritized over proposals limited to only one KP group.

The required deliverables are concrete and operational. Grantees are expected to (1) form and train diverse, inclusive monitoring groups in the selected districts; (2) collect, consolidate, and analyze monitoring data; (3) develop, implement, and track follow-up actions to improve service uptake at local and district levels; (4) submit quarterly financial and activity reports; (5) participate in quarterly meetings of the PEPFAR CLM Community Consultation Group, which includes PEPFAR, government, civil society representatives (including PLWHA organizations), and other stakeholders to review results and problem-solve; and (6) take part in national-level advocacy activities when relevant.

The performance period described runs from August 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023, with an anticipated start date of August 1, 2022, and all proposed activities expected to be completed by August 31, 2023. The funding details in the source data list an award ceiling of $180,000 and an expectation of two awards, meaning the program is likely looking for a small number of implementers with enough reach and organizational strength to cover multiple districts effectively.

Eligibility is targeted and restrictive to protect the independence of the monitoring function. Only Botswana-registered, not-for-profit organizations that are KP-led (meaning KP members are the majority of board/senior staff) or can clearly demonstrate KP-competence under PEPFAR standards may apply. Importantly, organizations that are currently receiving PEPFAR funding to deliver health services in communities or facilities are excluded, reflecting the idea that the monitor should not be the same entity delivering the services being assessed. Eligible applicants must also demonstrate experience successfully implementing programs with funding of at least $40,000, must submit only one proposal (even if it covers multiple districts), and must provide proof of registration with the Government of Botswana.

The application process is structured around standard U.S. government grant systems and formatting rules. Applicants are expected to submit through Grants.gov (with email submission as an alternative only if they cannot submit through the portal), and they must complete required registrations in advance, including obtaining a DUNS number and registering in SAM and Grants.gov as an Authorized Organization Representative. The proposal itself must be in English, submitted as PDFs, and follow specific formatting requirements (page numbering, 8.5 x 11 layout, 12-point Times New Roman, 1.15 spacing, 1-inch margins). The narrative proposal is capped at 15 pages, and the budget narrative is capped at 3 pages. Budgets must be in U.S. dollars using the stated exchange rate of USD 1 to BWP 11.95 (as of June 2022).

The required submission package includes the SF-424 series forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B), a cover/summary page naming the organization and proposed districts with a brief implementation overview, and a full proposal that explains the CLM approach in a way that would make sense to a reader unfamiliar with CLM. The proposal is expected to include: a program summary with objectives, coverage, and anticipated outcomes; an organizational background proving KP-led or KP-competent status and experience managing grants above $40,000 (including any prior U.S. government funding); measurable goals and objectives for specific KP populations and districts; the strategic approach and tools for forming monitoring groups, prioritizing services, collecting and analyzing data, and managing follow-up actions; a schedule and timeline; key personnel roles and time allocations (including leadership, program management, and finance); partners and sub-awardees with defined responsibilities (with encouragement for partnerships across KP-led groups); a monitoring and evaluation plan for implementation tracking and performance assessment; and a detailed budget justification. Attachments must include proof of Botswana registration, CVs for key personnel, partner letters of support if relevant, and three reference letters, including at least one from a donor that funded the organization at $40,000 or more.

The deadline listed for applications is July 8, 2022. Questions were directed to PEPFARBotswana@state.gov, with a question window through June 27, 2022 and consolidated answers promised by July 1, 2022 via the PEPFAR Botswana website and/or a virtual bidding conference. Proposals are reviewed by a technical panel using weighted criteria focused on the strength and feasibility of the CLM concept, planning and ability to achieve objectives, the monitoring and evaluation plan, organizational capacity and experience, budget and financial management capacity, and collaboration and sustainability. Final recommendations go to the U.S. Embassy Grants Officer, and applicants are told to expect notification within about 30 days after the deadline. Awardees must also comply with U.S. government grant rules and standard terms (including 2 CFR 200 and Department of State standard terms, with branding/marking requirements such as U.S. flag branding where applicable).

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Botswana in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "PEPFAR Botswana Community Led-Monitoring (CLM) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.029.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 08, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 08, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $180,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for PEPFAR GABORONE AF CLM GR 22 23

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