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PEPFAR South Sudan works in collaboration with the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) Ministry of Health (MOH) in implementing the HIV/AIDS National Strategic Plan (NSP) based on a priority action approach and strong collaboration and coordination among different stakeholders. PEPFAR South Sudan has prioritized supporting the MOH in strengthening their national laboratory system with the primary objective of supporting the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and surveillance of HIV through high-quality laboratory services. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) solicits technical assistance (TA) to strengthen the GOSS MOH laboratory and blood transfusion services systems. Outcomes will include the overall strengthening of the National Reference Lab, implementing and achieving accreditation for quality assurance systems; strengthening service delivery through increased technical assistance to lab testing programs, and training and accreditation for the national blood safety programs. The ultimate outcome is a national integrated quality-assured network of tiered laboratories providing quality clinical laboratory services with the capacity to support the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and surveillance of HIV and other diseases and support the establishment of the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and the National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS).

The 2014-2016 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Liberia exposed the acute vulnerability of Liberia's public health system. Limited laboratory capacity and resources, including lack of diagnostic capacities to test for infectious diseases, an unreliable blood supply with inadequate blood services, and poor to non-existent infection prevention and control (IPC) resources and practices in health facilities and laboratories left the Liberian health system unprepared for the EVD outbreak. Significant investments and gains have been made since 2014 to strengthen Liberia's public health system; however, the system remains fragile. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in coordination with the Government of Liberia (GOL) and local and international partners, continues to support health system strengthening activities, further building Liberia's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks at their source. This NOFO supports activities to strengthen laboratory capacities, further developing a competent laboratory workforce and expanding diagnostic capacities, reinforced through laboratory quality management activities; improved blood transfusion practices to build and maintain quality blood transfusion services; and strengthening infection prevention and control practices, with the goal of reducing transmission of epidemic prone diseases and antimicrobial resistance within healthcare facilities. These activities align with Global Health Security Agenda priorities in preventing, detecting and responding to potential public health threats. In order to continue efforts to maintain and expand Liberia's capabilities to prevent, detect, and respond to potential infectious disease outbreaks, CDC, the GOL, and partners must work to ensure a rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases.

The purpose of this FOA is to provide technical assistance (TA) to the Government of Kenya (GOK) and implementing partners in strengthening their capacity to design and implement systems to collect, analyze, interpret and disseminate high quality HIV data. To achieve this, the awardee(s) will complete activities under the following program areas: Program Area A - Surveillance and Epidemiology: Support the GOK and its partners in strengthening their capacity to design, implement, analyze, disseminate, and use data from epidemiologic studies to adequately and accurately measure outcomes and impact, while informing decision making and policy in the national and sub-national HIV response. Epidemiologic studies will include surveillance, surveys, operations research/implementation science and public health impact evaluations. Program Area B - Monitoring and Evaluation: Strengthen the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) capacity of health workers in program data collection, analysis and reporting as well as cohort analysis and program evaluation. The support will also include review, revision and roll out of M&E framework, tools, policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs), M&E coordination and collaboration at national and sub-national levels and support strengthening quality of HIV data through training and mentorship. Program Area C - mHealth: The third component will entail supporting the GOK units such as the National AIDS and STI Control Program (NASCOP), National Public Health Laboratory Services (NPHLS) and Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) in mobile technology innovations (mHealth) projects that leverage mobile technologies to enhance efficiencies in the delivery of prevention, care and treatment of HIV.

For over forty years, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has partnered with the Government of Kenya (GoK) to protect the health of the Kenyan people and strengthen health systems. The United States Government remains the largest investor in Kenya's health sector. This investment includes PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), GHSA (Global Health Security Agenda), Malaria, TB, Immunizations and Influenza. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) seeks to build upon activities funded by CDC to support USG global health priorities in Kenya through implementation of programs and activities that focus on strengthening public health programs. After five years of implementing and strengthening global health security systems, the USG will continue to advance prevent, detect, and respond strategies to mitigate threats. This NOFO's main outcomes are to: Improve prevention of avoidable epidemics including naturally occurring outbreaks and intentional or accidental releases of dangerous pathogens Improve ability to rapidly detect threats early, including detecting, characterizing, and reporting emerging biological threats Respond rapidly and effectively to public health threats of international concern Strengthen implementation science programs and platforms to improve health outcomes

US CDC will, through this FOA, fund four (4) awards to build and improve upon a number of HIV community care and service activities supported by US CDC, including community-based care for adult and OVC activities managed by implementing partners under six separate agreements that are ending in March 2016. These awards will also strengthen the capacity of communities and families in high-prevalence areas of Cote d’Ivoire to ensure the well-being of their most vulnerable members, including OVC, PLHIV and most at risk groups (adolescent girls, adult Men and mobile population) in Cote d'Ivoire. This FOA is intended to strengthen HIV/AIDS retention and adherence in care and treatment among PLHIV including children using an Optimum linkage between facility-based programs/services and community efforts through collaborating with NGOs and relevant Government entities. It will enhance community-based organizations' capacities to increase linkage from prevention activities to HIV services.

US CDC will, through this FOA, fund four (4) awards to build and improve upon a number of HIV community care and service activities supported by US CDC, including community-based care for adult and OVC activities managed by implementing partners under six separate agreements that are ending in March 2016. These awards will also strengthen the capacity of communities and families in high-prevalence areas of Cote d’Ivoire to ensure the well-being of their most vulnerable members, including OVC, PLHIV and most at risk groups (adolescent girls, adult Men and mobile population) in Cote d'Ivoire. This FOA is intended to strengthen HIV/AIDS retention and adherence in care and treatment among PLHIV including children using an Optimum linkage between facility-based programs/services and community efforts through collaborating with NGOs and relevant Government entities. It will enhance community-based organizations' capacities to increase linkage from prevention activities to HIV services.

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to strengthen HIV strategic information (SI) in Senegal through design and implementation of a national HIV case reporting system and other surveillance activities in support of the national Strategic Information (SI) program. This announcement allows for the expansion of existing HIV surveillance activities in Senegal with the following program goals and objectives: * Implementing a round of surveillance among pregnant women attending ANC based on routine prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) program data by 2016 through the evaluating and strengthening the quality of routine PMTCT data and HIV testing. * Supporting the Senegal National AIDS Control Program (CNLS) to establishing a national HIV case surveillance system by 2019 through the strengthening and expansion of the pilot case surveillance system initiated in 2013.

This project will: 1. Enhance and strengthen ongoing regional cooperation related to the creation of a shared surveillance information platform. 2. Contribute to efficiencies the small Central American countries are seeking to improve laboratory capacity by creating networks of reference laboratories. 3. Develop and implement regional guidelines for biosafety, as well as other guidelines that are appropriately developed regionally. It will strengthen the network of epidemiologists and regional epidemiological training. 4. Strengthen regional communication and the capacity of the countries of the region to respond in a coordinated manner to epidemiological and public health threats. This program addresses the issues of Health Communication; Immunization and Infectious Diseases; Public Health Infrastructure; Respiratory Diseases; and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and is in alignment with HHS/CDC performance goal(s) to protect Americans from infectious diseases by providing global health promotion, health protection and health diplomacy. Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) the Center for Global Health’s priority areas identified in "Protecting the Nation’s Health in an Era of Globalization: CDC’s Global Strategy for Addressing Infectious Diseases". Priority areas for this cooperative agreement include: 1) implementation of proven disease prevention and control interventions, 2) application of proven public health tools, 3) identification of potential global initiatives for disease control and, 4)public health training and capacity building.

Cameroon is one of the 30 countries with the highest burden of TB/HIV co-infection worldwide. Only 54% of TB cases were notified in 2016 and 5.5% were children. TB treatment coverage was 55% and treatment success 84%.Despite implementation of TB and HIV strategic plans, TB case finding, diagnosis, and management remain suboptimal. TB/HIV co-infection remains high, Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) implementation is limited, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) services are not fully integrated in TB clinics. Human resource capacity is limited, and there are continued challenges with stock management.Cameroon adheres to the Sustainable Development Goals and the WHO Strategy to END TB. This NOFO will support development of models to improve screening, case identification, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of TB among people living with HIV (PLHIV). It will also strengthen HIV testing, ART initiation, clinical monitoring, and care for TB clients, and strengthen health systems by building monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and infection control (IC) capacity. These interventions will strengthen TB/HIV services and improve capacity for an effective TB/HIV response in Cameroon.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The U.S. Embassy in Belmopan, Belize announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to strengthen democratic governance through capacity building for civil society organizations and civil servants through partnership in Belize with up to $1,261,666 USD in FY 2017 Economic Support Funds (ESF). The anticipated start date for successful proposals is September 28, 2018. U.S. Embassy Belmopan anticipates funding up to five awards between the amount of $200,000 and $400,000 USD for this NOFO. The Embassy seeks proposals that strengthen civil society's capacity and role in the governance process, and/or strengthen civil service capacity at all levels of government. Proposals should be oriented toward civil society organizations working with national and/or local government, particularly in vulnerable and/or marginalized communities. Proposals should detail how each planned activity will incorporate principles of accountability in all substantive areas, processes, and procedures. The overall goal of this NOFO is to support democracy and governance efforts in Belize. Funding awarded under this NOFO cannot be used for law enforcement or to train members of law enforcement

The United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to help the Côte d'Ivoire Ministry of Health meet key International Health Regulation (IHR) requirements through implementation of priority Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) activities. The objectives of this program are to strengthen Côte d'Ivoire's health system capacities to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. This program emphasizes further improving core GHSA priority capacities in disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, emergency preparedness and response, public health workforce development, and strengthening of anti-microbial resistance stewardship. This program includes a particular focus on strengthening disease surveillance through the establishment of an event-based surveillance system in high-risk border districts, reinforced through public health staff training and supervision. Surveillance and response capacities will be bolstered through improved laboratory point of care diagnostics and the integration of epidemiologic and laboratory data. This program will also support building Côte d'Ivoire's capacity to respond to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies through the training and mentoring of a cadre of public health workers in each of the 101 districts in Côte d'Ivoire in field epidemiology and emergency preparedness and response, reinforcing these capacities via field simulation exercises.

Globally there is insufficient capacity to adequately prevent, detect and respond to public health issues. Field epidemiology networks have been assisting countries with developing and strengthening their public health workforce and are essential to strengthening health systems worldwide and achieving global public health objectives. The purpose of this announcement is to partner with an established Global Network and at least two established Regional Networks of public health training in target regions (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia Pacific) to strengthen and sustain applied epidemiology.

National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) has implemented a series of activities to track trends in the HIV epidemic and measure the impact of the national program. A strategic objective of PEPFAR India in COP 2017 is to ensure availability of high-quality data for planning and decision-making, and to harmonize NACO’s efforts for a coordinated HIV response. This NOFO will support monitoring the epidemic trends and continuous quality improvement (CQI) to improve data quality and its efficient use through targeted technical assistance (TA) and limited introduction of new techniques and approaches. The recipient will strengthen the individual and organizational capacities, data quality and reporting systems to inform program and health systems’ planning, and provide evidence for implementation of health policies and best practices. The recipient will collaborate with NACO to develop/strengthen and implement the national HIV strategic information (SI) plan. The recipient will provide TA to health departments and selected public service delivery sites (Targeted Interventions, which are combination prevention sites for key population, Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers and antiretroviral treatment (ART) centers) to strengthen capacities for data management and use for decision-making. Interventions will be implemented in PEPFAR-prioritized districts in two high prevalence states in India.

Access to quality assured diagnostics and laboratory services is critical to the effective diagnosis, treatment, and management of HIV and other HIV-related diseases, including TB. Achieving an AIDS-Free Generation and the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets requires establishment and operationalization of laboratory and diagnostic networks, including strong and sustainable collaborations with partners.To date, PEPFAR-supported laboratory and integrated diagnostic network strengthening efforts have led to improved access to the quality diagnostic and patient monitoring services required to support the HIV clinical cascade. However, work remains to establish and maintain the partnerships and collaborations required to support these efforts. This NOFO will focus on building and strengthening sustainable networks and partnerships to support laboratory systems, policies, and data use in PEPFAR-supported countries; improving in-service laboratory safety and science competencies through quality training for laboratory professionals; collaborations across partner organizations, laboratory professionals, and clinicians; strengthened public health laboratory and diagnostic network capacity, quality, and functionality; and improved access to high quality and effective technical assistance (TA) resources.

The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), anticipates issuing a request for applications (RFA), early-May 2013, inviting applications for a Cooperative Agreement to implement the Strengthening Democratic Local Governance Program in South Sudan to strengthen democratic local governance through improving local government's ability to perform its core functions and supporting the development of strong and credible state and local systems. Specifically, the program will engender a bottom-up and inclusive public participatory approach in the decision-making, implementation and accountability of government service delivery and further strengthen linkages within national, state, and local (payam) governments and International/NGOs for better coordination, delivery of services and accountability to the people. Subject to the availability of funds, this competitively awarded five-year, Cooperative Agreement shall focus on implementing projects primarily in high conflict, disaster prone and low resource areas. USAID will advise applicants of project objectives and desired outcome; however, applicants must provide the methodology or approach for implementation of the project. Applicants will have the opportunity to propose a sound, cost effective approach for the Program. Additionally, Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider implementation through a consortium with other organizations including PIOs and local organizations; however, principal responsibility for implementation of the program should rest with the applicant who should act as prime and have final responsibility for implementation and performance monitoring of the program.

The U.S. Embassy Islamabad Public Affairs Section (PAS) announces an Open Source RFP and invites organizations to submit a proposal supporting people-to-people activities between the people of the United States and Pakistan, specifically in the area of filmmaking and capacity building within the film industry. These activities should expand people-to-people relationships between non-officials (e.g. academic scholars and filmmakers), strengthen peaceful regional relationships, and increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of Pakistan. Film has the power to transform lives, communities, and societies, and create a more just, humane, and sustainable future. Program goals: 1. Strengthen People-to-People Ties between the U.S. and Pakistan: Increase mutual understanding between U.S. and Pakistani film professionals. 2. Create Institutional Linkages Between the U.S. and Pakistani Film Industries: Encourage the local filmmaking industry to build long-term, self-sustaining relationships between U.S. and Pakistani filmmaking institutions, existing or new film festivals, and film schools. 3. Expand Filmmaking Capacity: Provide Pakistani filmmakers with training on professional standards in filmmaking, with venues to exhibit their work and opportunities to engage in substantive dialogue with film industry professionals. 4. Strengthen Regional Cooperation between Afghanistan, Pakistan and India: Increase mutual understanding on a regional level by including Indian and Afghan filmmakers in film capacity-building projects. 5. Encouraging Accurate Messaging: Build local filmmaker capacity to generate narratives that confront ideological support for terrorism, through projects that develop credible local broadcast content and present accurate information on U.S.-Pakistan cooperation.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in Malawi is to strengthen the laboratory systems by training human resources, improving laboratory infrastructure, building capacity in data management and use, and improving quality management systems. The objectives are to provide pre-service and in-service training for various cadre or laboratory staff, and to equip and perform alterations and refurbishments to at least 10 laboratories to perform essential microbiology, mycobacteriology, parasitology, hematology and chemistry. The FOA will also develop laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and improve the use of generated data in decision making, increase quality by supporting laboratories to develop and adhere to quality management systems (QMS), and strengthen quality control and quality assurance. The activities of the program will include health systems strengthening by increasing human resources, implementing necessary alterations and refurbishment to physical infrastructure, improving the specimen referral system, and improving data generation and handling capabilities through an electronic information system.

This Annual Program Statement solicits proposals for projects that further the Public Affairs Section's public diplomacy goals of expanding media engagement, strengthening people-to-people ties between Pakistan and the United States, and building and strengthening local partners, through the specific priority program objectives listed in the solicitation. Grant budgets will vary between $10,000 and $50,000, with a project duration of up to one year. Grant activities shall take place only in the following Administrative Divisions of Punjab Province: Lahore, Faisalabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan, Sargodha, and Gujranwal.

This Annual Program Statement solicits proposals for projects that further the Public Affairs Section's public diplomacy goals of expanding media engagement, strengthening people-to-people ties between Pakistan and the United States, and building and strengthening local partners, through the specific priority program objectives listed in the solicitation. Grant budgets will vary between $10,000 and $50,000, with a project duration of up to one year. Grant activities shall take place only in the following Administrative Divisions of Punjab Province: Lahore, Faisalabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan, Sargodha, and Gujranwal.

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Singapore announces an open competition for proposals to design, plan, and implement a three-day workshop (not inclusive of travel dates) in Singapore for the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), pending the availability of funds. The three-day workshop in August 2020 (tentatively) will gather approximately 40-60 participants between 18-35 years of age from all ten ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste around the theme, "Future Workforce." YSEALI is the U.S.government's signature initiative to strengthen partnerships with emerging leaders in ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and Timor-Leste. Program participants are encouraged to work across national borders to solve regional challenges, encompassed by the four pillars of YSEALI - economic growth, sustainable development, education, and civic engagement - and to strengthen the U.S.-ASEAN partnership. The YSEALI Regional Workshop on "Future Workforce" in Singapore will help Southeast Asia strengthen economic development capacity by preparing their workforce to adapt to the needs of future job demands and highlight the value of U.S. companies in driving technology and innovation. Over the course of three days, workshop participants will gain the knowledge, skills, and resilience to ensure their enterprises remain viable into the future. The workshop will develop participants' leadership competencies in strategies for meeting the digital future, critical thinking skills required to adapt quickly, and upskilling/reskilling their workforce.

USAID/Cambodia seeks to make a five-year award focused on the goal of improving the quality of public and private health services in Cambodia in a sustainable manner through technical assistance to national and sub-national health systems. The activity will achieve this goal through four objectives: 1) improved policies, guidelines and standards for streamlined quality assurance; 2) increased efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery; 3) strengthened regulatory framework, implementation, and enforcement; and 4) strengthened pre-service public health training. Under these objectives, the award will support the Ministry of Health, Provincial Health Departments, Operational District Offices and Referral Hospital Management to improve the quality of health services through targeted technical assistance and limited introduction of new techniques, approaches, and technologies that improve quality of health services in both the public and private sector. The award will build upon existing, effective quality assurance systems and ensure that they incorporate a focus on USAID/Cambodia's technical priorities (maternal and child health, family planning, nutrition, tuberculosis, HIV and malaria). In addition, a major focus of the award will be ensuring quality of health services provided in the private sector. This will include, but is not limited to, strengthening licensing and regulation of service providers and monitoring of service quality in the private sector toward the development of an accreditation system for both public and private providers.

USAID/Yemen intends in the near future to issue a solicitation for a program(s) to mitigate conflict, strengthen social cohesion, promote the peaceful resolution of differences while capitalizing on stabilization opportunities in Yemen. USAID will seek innovative and flexible methodologies through co-creation and collaboration to support learning and small-scale activities that strengthen the ability of local institutions and organizations to serve as neutral arbitrators and meet citizen's needs in ways that mitigate the conflict, strengthen social cohesion and promote the peaceful resolution of differences while capitalizing on stabilization opportunities. USAID believes critical to the success of this program is the implementation of regular and iterative conflict analysis, using this information to learn and adapt designed community-based, capacity building and conflict mitigation initiatives. USAID also believes broadening the capacity of Yemeni civil society to conduct these types of identified interventions as well as partnering with government bodies to identify and address community priority needs is integral to this work. Activities will need to be conducted in areas where implementing partners and third party monitoring and verification mechanisms have access and the ability to operate.