USAID Sustaining Epidemic Control through Unified Prevention (SECURE) Activity | 72067424RFA00007

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the USAID SECURE Activity?

The USAID Sustaining Epidemic Control through Unified Prevention (SECURE) Activity is a health-focused funding opportunity to strengthen HIV prevention and epidemic control in Lesotho. It is designed to expand access to person-centered, evidence-based biomedical HIV services through a unified package of prevention, testing, and treatment, with a strong emphasis on community-level delivery.

2) What country and health issue does this opportunity focus on?

This opportunity focuses on Lesotho and targets HIV prevention, testing, and treatment to support epidemic control.

3) What is the core purpose of the SECURE award?

The core purpose is to help revitalize HIV/AIDS prevention programming in Lesotho where people live and seek care, making services easier to access, better targeted, and more responsive to individual needs. The approach combines biomedical prevention, expanded testing, and effective treatment coverage, while also addressing barriers that affect access and retention in care.

4) Who is the intended population for SECURE services?

The activity is intended to reach both the general population and key populations (KP). It also references key populations living with HIV (KPLHIV) in relation to 95-95-95 targets.

5) What types of services or interventions are emphasized?

The opportunity emphasizes a unified package that can include prevention, testing, and treatment services delivered in person-centered, evidence-based ways. The description points to combination prevention options and layered approaches that may include testing and linkage to treatment alongside other biomedical prevention services.

6) What does "community-level delivery" mean in the context of this NOFO?

The NOFO emphasizes delivering services at the community level, meaning implementation should prioritize access in the places where people live and seek care, rather than relying only on centralized or facility-based models.

7) How is SECURE aligned with UNAIDS global targets?

SECURE is aligned with major UNAIDS targets and roadmaps, including the HIV Prevention 2025 Roadmap and the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets for key populations living with HIV, as well as enabling-environment priorities reflected in the UNAIDS 10-10-10 targets.

8) What is the UNAIDS HIV Prevention 2025 Roadmap target referenced here?

The NOFO references an expectation that 95 percent of people at risk of HIV should have equitable access to and be able to use appropriate, prioritized, and effective combination prevention options by 2025.

9) What are the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets for key populations living with HIV (KPLHIV) mentioned in the opportunity?

The NOFO describes 95-95-95 for KPLHIV as: 95 percent know their HIV status, 95 percent of those who know their status are on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95 percent of those on ART achieve viral suppression (VS).

10) Why does the NOFO mention the UNAIDS 10-10-10 targets?

The inclusion of 10-10-10 signals that applicants are expected to consider enabling-environment factors and structural barriers that can undermine HIV control, not just clinical service delivery.

11) What kinds of structural barriers are highlighted under the 10-10-10 framing?

The NOFO highlights structural issues such as punitive legal and policy environments that restrict service access, stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV (PLHIV) and key populations, and gender inequality and violence affecting women and girls as well as PLHIV and KP.

12) What type of award is this?

This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement under a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

13) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement means the recipient should expect substantial involvement from USAID during implementation compared with a more hands-off grant.

14) Which USAID office is managing this opportunity?

The opportunity is managed by USAID South Africa (Pretoria).

15) What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number and category?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 98.001 and falls within the health funding activity category.

16) How many awards does USAID expect to make?

USAID expects to make one award.

17) What is the maximum (ceiling) funding amount?

The award ceiling is $35,000,000.

18) What does a single award with a $35,000,000 ceiling suggest about the program?

It suggests a large, single-partner mechanism intended to operate at meaningful scale and deliver complex, multi-component HIV programming.

19) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this NOFO?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 72067424RFA00007.

20) When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on February 16, 2024.

21) What was the original application closing date?

The original application closing date was March 15, 2024.

22) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. private voluntary organizations, U.S. and non-U.S. NGOs, private non-profit organizations, and for-profit entities (as long as they are willing to forego profit). Universities, research organizations, professional associations, special interest associations, Public International Organizations, and faith-based or community organizations are also eligible.

23) Are for-profit organizations allowed to apply?

Yes. For-profit entities may apply as long as they are willing to forego profit.

24) Are faith-based and community organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based and community organizations are explicitly included as eligible applicants.

25) Does USAID welcome new or first-time USAID partners for this opportunity?

Yes. The NOFO signals interest in expanding and diversifying the partner base and welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received USAID financial assistance.

26) Can an applicant apply alone or as part of a partnership?

Applicants may apply as a single organization or as part of a partnership with international and/or local organizations.

27) Is local organizational involvement encouraged?

Yes. The NOFO encourages involvement of underutilized partners and local organizations, and suggests proposals may be stronger when they demonstrate meaningful local participation, capacity strengthening, and sustainable engagement.

28) How many applications can one organization submit as the prime applicant?

Each organization may submit only one application as the prime applicant under this NOFO.

29) Can an organization be a sub-awardee on multiple applications?

Yes. An organization may participate as a sub-awardee on multiple applications led by different prime applicants.

30) Are exclusive teaming arrangements allowed?

USAID discourages exclusive teaming arrangements, implying applicants should avoid restrictive partnership structures that limit competitive collaboration.

31) Are individuals eligible to apply?

No. Individual applicants are not eligible; USAID is seeking organizational implementers.

32) What does the NOFO imply about the capabilities expected of the recipient?

Based on the award size and cooperative agreement structure, the NOFO implies the recipient should have organizational capacity to manage a large mechanism and implement a complex, multi-component HIV program at scale, in coordination with USAID involvement.

33) What is meant by "person-centered" services in this opportunity?

The description indicates services should be responsive to individuals' needs and circumstances, and delivered in ways that match different peoples circumstances and risk profiles, particularly through combination prevention approaches.

34) Does the opportunity focus only on direct clinical services?

No. In addition to prevention, testing, and treatment services, the NOFO highlights the importance of addressing social and structural factors like stigma, discrimination, legal and policy barriers, and gender inequality and violence that can prevent people from safely accessing and staying engaged in services.