Call for proposals for regional SRHR-HIV/AIDS programme 2016-2020 in southern Africa Introduction The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs has from the onset recognized the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As the epicenter of the epidemic is in southern Africa, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided support to a regional HIV/AIDS programme since 2001. This programme has evolved through different phases, adapting to changing developments in the southern Africa region, the latest knowledge and specific emphasis in the Netherlands policy on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in a broad sense, including HIV/AIDS. Most of the activities of the current programme will be completed by mid-2016. Since the problems of SRHR and HIV/AIDS still persist, the programme will be continued in a new phase. The recommendations of the evaluation of 2014 have been taken into account. One of the recommendations is to publish a call for proposals open to both new and current implementing partners in order to get the best value for money. In the selection process proposals will be assessed on the basis of a fixed set of criteria. Both the quality of proposals and a balanced coverage of result areas, target groups and countries will be taken into account. The Netherlands Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique is coordinating the regional SRHR-HIV/AIDS programme for southern Africa. Call for proposals and budget The regional programme should improve the health/srhr situation and reduce problems related to HIV/AIDS for adolescents and young people, key populations and mobile groups in the southern African region. The main objective of this call for proposals is to solicit for innovative ideas and modalities in addressing problems that cause the HIV/AIDS epidemic, high (unwanted) teenage pregnancies and maternal mortality in southern Africa. A limited number of comprehensive, multi-layered programmes will be selected, that will be implemented in the period July 1, 2016 - December 31, 2020 by consortia of at least 3 capable partners who share information and combine their skill mixes and other resources to address the needs of the 3 target groups : 1. adolescents and young people 2. key populations and 3. mobile groups. In total an amount of EUR 28 mln is available. Three results areas The proposals should focus on one or more of the following result areas: Result area 1: better information and greater freedom of choice for adolescents and young people about their sexuality. Assumptions: Adolescents and young people can only make healthy choices if they have (a) easy access to accurate information about sexuality that is in line with their needs and (b) full access to
SRH/HIV commodities and services with which they can prevent unwanted pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections. Such access can only be guaranteed if the enabling environment is improved. For instance if legal barriers (e.g. age of consent) and implementation barriers are removed (facilities, staff attitudes, availability of appropriate commodities). Good comprehensive sexuality education will contribute to respectful relations and thus reduce sexual violence. If young people are involved in policy- and decision-making, their needs are more likely to be met. Cultural (including religious) norms regarding adolescence, youth and gender influence the extent to which young people s needs are taken seriously. These norms are not static, but can be influenced through dialogue with opinion leaders. Result area 2: Improved access to and use of sexual and reproductive health commodities and quality health care. Assumptions: Because people s needs vary according to age, gender and their situation and stage in life, uninterrupted availability and accessibility of an appropriate mix of fit-for-purpose commodities are a prerequisite for achieving the outcome. The actual use of available commodities and SRH-care is determined by both quality of service delivery (attuned to the needs of diverse population groups), and legal issues, social, cultural and religious norms. Service delivery can best be organized in a context-appropriate mix of private and public providers, including CSOs. The quantity, quality and motivation of health service personnel are crucial for the quality of service delivery. Result area 3: More respect for the sexual and reproductive rights of groups who are currently denied these rights. Assumptions: By supporting communities and networks of key populations and empowerment (socially and economically) they can effectively advocate de-stigmatization, de-criminalization, and better service delivery. The international human rights framework related to SRHR and HIV, can be used by advocates for progressive change, either in the form of litigation (hard law) or standard setting (soft law). Organized opposition against strengthening the international human rights framework is best countered by strengthening existing coalitions and networks, reaching out to lesslikeminded partners and linking regional discussions to local realities. Safeguarding the space for civil society advocates is necessary to harness the voice of civil society and to strengthen accountability of government vis-à-vis their citizens. Three target groups Because adolescents and young people, mobile groups (migrants, truck drivers) and key populations (LGBTI, men having sex with men, sex workers and their clients, prisoners, injecting drugs users) remain extra susceptible to HIV and are often denied access to SRH-care, proposals must focus on at least one of these 3 target groups.
12 countries Proposals of consortia will target at least 4, but preferable more, of the following countries: 1. South Africa, 2. Swaziland, 3. Lesotho, 4. Zimbabwe, 5. Mozambique, 6. Botswana, 7. Namibia, 8. Zambia, 9. Malawi, 10. Tanzania, 11. Angola, 12. Madagascar. Consortia and consortia partners Eligible applicants are consortia with an international NGO or a multilateral organization as lead partner. The lead partner should have at least 5 years experience in working with the 3 target groups in the 3 result areas in southern Africa, and combine resources, local and regional knowledge and networks with at least 2 other partners. The consortium partners envisage working together in a comprehensive programme at multiple (regional, country and community) levels in at least 4 countries. This will allow for expansion of geographic coverage, scaling up of activities and cross border approaches and lead to more and better results. The consortium should preferably include a research institution and for profit private sector partners. The rationale of the preference to include a research institution is to ensure adequate monitoring, evidence based strategies, and adjustment of strategies and activities to new knowledge. Inclusion of private for profit partners in consortia is expected to bring in business mentality and improve financial sustainability. The lead party needs to proof that it had an annual income of at least EUR 2 million in the past 3 years and that it is capable of proper (financial) management evident via annual accounts and a positive organizational capacity assessment (COCA from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs) or Partos 9001 certification. Proof is to be submitted that a minimum of 25% of total income of the coalition partners in the past 3 years came from other resources than the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The maximum remuneration of individual management/board members of Dutch NGOconsortium partners does not exceed EUR 168,000 per calendar year for a 36-hour working week. This amount includes not only salary and bonuses, but also taxable fixed and variable expense allowances as well as other payments made at set times of the year, such as holiday pay, 13th month s salary, the employer s share of pension contributions, etc. Information on total remuneration of management of other than Dutch NGO s will also be assessed. Although there is no absolute maximum amount, the selection team will check whether remuneration is reasonable and proportional to the size of the organization. Monitoring implementation During the implementation phase progress of programmes will be monitored on the basis of a set of indicators, which need to be outlined and addressed in the concept note and which will have to be aligned with international indicators (of SDGs and UNAIDS), national indicators or indicators per target group. These indicators will be incorporated and updated in progress reports.
The contract partner is responsible for submitting electronic progress reports in conformity with IATI standards and audited annual financial reports in pdf or hard copy. Field visits by the Embassy in Maputo or another Dutch Embassy in the region, and/or meetings with consortium partners will take place at least once a year. Consortia will be requested to attend annual meetings which will be organized from 2017 onwards in one of the countries in the region, to discuss progress and share acquired knowledge. At the end of 2019 an evaluation of the regional SRHR and HIV/AIDS programme will be commissioned by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Implementing consortia are expected to participate and supply requested information. Selection process: Proposals will be selected in two phases. In the first phase consortia of complementing partners are invited to submit a concept note (including a budget indication) and a track record before March 15, 2016. A committee which consists of staff of several embassies in the region and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague, and a representative of the UNAIDS-office in Johannesburg will select approximately 4 concept notes. Beside the professional quality of the individual concept note and track record, the committee will look at balanced coverage of the 3 result areas, the 3 target groups and the 12 countries. Together these criteria will provide the basis for selection. In the second phase the selected consortia will receive feedback on their concept notes and will be invited to submit a full proposal and budget. During the months of April and May there will be room for additional consultations with members of the selection team. The final proposal will be submitted latest by May 31, 2016. The intention is that the selected concept notes will all lead to a grant award. The final budget is subject to negotiation and revision, if deemed necessary by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Maputo will approve the selection of the concept notes and the final proposals. The concept note (3,000 words or less) should be arranged around target group, result area and country or regional approach and contain the following components: 1. An adequate problem description for each of the of the target groups at which the proposed intervention is aimed. 2. A cultural and political context and gender analysis. 3. Clearly formulated objectives to be achieved at regional, country and target group level in the short, medium and long term. 4. A clear explanation of the intervention(s) including a justification of the choice of the intervention as a logical consequence of the analysis and objectives as well as the added value of the regional approach. A clear explanation how target groups and local parties have been included in the problem analysis and choice of intervention strategy. 5. SMART formulated - outputs, outcomes and impact, and targets, - indicators for monitoring achievement of these outputs, outcomes and impact, - methods for data collection.
6. An adequate account of the added value of the consortium in the selected countries and the roles of each of the consortium members. Applying consortia should demonstrate how the governance and collaboration structure is/will be formalized within the consortium and who the leading partner is. If required areas of expertise are not sufficiently covered by one or more of the consortium partners it should be explained how this expertise will be obtained. In the second phase a cooperation agreement between consortium partners needs to be concluded. 7. An explanation of assumptions underlying the chosen approach. 8. An indication of the financial resources required from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to achieve the envisaged outputs, with a minimum of EUR 6 mln for the period of 2016-2020. The total budget for the intervention preferably includes additional funds (from other sources than the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 9. In the second phase a detailed budget needs to be submitted, arranged by outcome/output indicator and by country, distinguishing between direct programme costs, implementation costs and overhead percentage charged by the applicant for recovery of indirect costs). 10. An adequate risk analysis that addresses risks related to corruption/fraud (Dutch government applies a zero tolerance policy), and potential other risks, such as governance/human rights. It describes the likelihood and impact and the steps taken to mitigate identified risks. Criteria relating to the quality of the track record The track record (in total 3,000 words or less) will consist of at least one case study per consortium partner from the last 3 years, describing results obtained and experiences gained of the consortium partners. The case studies should demonstrate experience with programmes focused on one or more of the 3 aforementioned result areas of the Dutch SRHR/HIV policy, reflecting regional, country and community level work and focus on one or more of the 3 priority target groups. If applicable, consortium partners describe previous cases in which they worked together. The quality of the track record will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria: 1. The extent to which consortium partners have developed expertise in the areas of SRHR and HIV/AIDS in the southern African region. What is the consortium's strength relative to other actors? 2. How effective have the organization or consortium's activities been in the area of SRHR and HIV/AIDS? Do the cases show which results were achieved? Were these results sustainable (for example policy changes)? 3. What challenges did the organization face, and how has it dealt with these? 4. Do the cases demonstrate the organization s learning capacity and/or capacity for innovation? 5. How do consortium partners provide accountability to their target group, partner organizations, local stakeholders, donors and the wider public? 6. Are local partners (not necessarily consortium partners) and target groups involved in preparing, planning and implementing interventions, and if so how? To what extent have relevant national and international networks been used to enhance the intervention's effectiveness? 7. How do consortium partners mainstream gender aspects in their intervention stategies?
8. The example of case studies provided should explain why these organizations are part of the consortium, what they see as the added value of working in this consortium, and what experience the organizations have in working with each other. References to evaluations and/or impact studies and/or other documents in support of the case descriptions should be provided. All required documents must be submitted in English. Timetable: Publication of call for proposals February 2016 Deadline for submitting concept notes and track records March 15, 2016 Feedback on concept notes, consortia draft full proposals April May 2016 Submission of final proposal and budget 31 May 2016 Issuing grant decisions/contribution arrangements June 2016 Start of programmes July 2016 Address, information: Concept notes and track record can be sent electronically to MAP-HIVAIDS@minbuza.nl Requests for further information about the call for proposals can also be sent to this mailbox. Answers will be published at the websites of the embassies in the region and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Interested parties can be registered (via the same e-mail address) and will receive alerts in case new information comes available.