Grants from Aidsfonds for HIV Services, Advocacy, and Community Development

The ActHIVate Fund was established by the international organization Aidsfonds to support and strengthen initiatives led by transgender people and men who have sex with men (MSM). The program is implemented amidst growing pressures, legal restrictions, criminalization, and significant reductions in international donor funding in the HIV/AIDS sector. The main objective of the fund is to ensure the sustainability of vital medical and social services, as well as to support strategic advocacy for protecting the health rights of the most vulnerable populations.

Within the first call for proposals (2027–2028), €2,000,000 is allocated from the total 4-year program budget of €4,000,000. The grant competition targets national and local non-governmental organizations operating across nine selected countries: Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uganda, Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, and Lebanon. Selected projects will run for 1 year and 9 months (21 months), with grant funding ranging from €52,500 to €140,000 per organization for the entire implementation period.

The ActHIVate Fund focuses on three main pillars: direct community-led HIV service delivery, strategic advocacy and policy reform, and the integration of inclusive services into national healthcare systems. Additionally, a key element of the program is the opportunity to allocate up to 60% of the grant to cover core operational expenses and organizational development (core funding), strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring operational sustainability. Applications are submitted via the specialized online platform Good Grants.

• Who IS Eligible to Apply:
  • Non-governmental non-profit organizations led by MSM and/or trans people (community members have decisive influence on decision-making and leadership).
  • Organizations whose mission focuses on protecting health and rights of communities most affected by HIV.
  • Organizations with a proven track record of HIV service delivery, advocacy, or engagement with governmental and health structures.
  • Officially registered organizations in one of the following countries: Uganda, Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Ukraine. In case of legal restrictions, registration outside the country with justification or applying via a fiscal host is permitted.
  • Organizations with an annual budget of at least €30,000 in at least one year (2024, 2025, or 2026).
  • Partnership applications are allowed (maximum 2 organizations, where the lead applicant meets all criteria).
• Who IS NOT Eligible to Apply:
  • Organizations not led by MSM or trans people.
  • Partnerships comprising more than 2 organizations.
  • International non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and their local branches.
  • Multilateral organizations and UN entities.
  • Individuals.
  • Educational, political, governmental, or religious institutions.
  • For-profit commercial enterprises.
  • Academic and research institutions.

• Total budget: Within the first round of funding (2027–2028), €2,000,000 is allocated from the total 4-year ActHIVate fund of €4,000,000.
• Grant amount: Requested budget must range between €30,000 and €80,000 per year. Total budget for the entire implementation period (1 year 9 months / 21 months) ranges from €52,500 to €140,000.
• Rules for determining grant amount:
  • The requested annual amount cannot exceed the applicant's average annual organizational budget for 2024–2026.
  • If, due to donor funding cuts, the average budget for 2024–2026 is less than €30,000, but in at least one of these years the budget exceeded €30,000, the organization may apply for up to €30,000 per year (maximum €52,500 for 21 months).
  • If the organization's annual budget did not reach €30,000 in any of the years (2024, 2025, 2026), submitting an application is not permitted.
  • For partnership applications, the maximum amount is calculated based on the higher average budget of one of the partners, provided that the partner organization's budget does not exceed its own average annual budget.
• Core Funding: Up to 60% of the total grant amount may be allocated to cover core operational expenses and institutional development (salaries, office rent, overhead, registration fees, audit, advocacy staff expenses).
• Eligible costs:
  • Provision of community-led HIV and related healthcare services (prevention, treatment referral, adherence support, mental health support).
  • Advocacy activities, reform of laws, policies, budgets, and combating stigma.
  • Activities to integrate services for MSM and trans people into the general healthcare system.
  • Operational and organizational expenses.
• Ineligible costs:
  • Procurement of pharmaceuticals (PrEP, ARVs, long-acting prevention, vaccines) and laboratory equipment.
  • Large-scale infrastructure and IT projects in healthcare (clinical software, digital databases, supply chain management).
  • Clinical trials.
  • Advocacy without a clear link to improving HIV services.
  • Research without a clear goal of advocacy or service delivery.
  • Large-scale national campaigns managed by external agencies or consultants.
  • Conference attendance fees or organizing conferences.
  • Economic empowerment activities.
  • Major capital purchases (buying buildings, large equipment).
  • Re-granting (sub-granting) is prohibited, except for fund transfers between two partners within a partnership application.

• Community-Led Service Delivery: HIV prevention, treatment referral, adherence support, mental health support, intersectional services for sex workers and people who use drugs.
• Advocacy and Reforms: Influencing laws, regulations, and budgets, overcoming stigma and criminalization, including communities in decision-making processes.
• Integration into Healthcare Systems: Training and sensitization of medical staff, development of inclusive service models, signing MOUs with clinics, adapting national medical protocols.
• Organizational Strengthening (Core Funding): Covering administrative expenses, staff salaries, rent, audits, and registration procedures.

• September 21, 2026: Official launch and publication of Request for Proposals (RFP).
• September 30, 2026 (11:00–12:00 CEST): Online Q&A session for potential applicants.
• October 25, 2026 (23:59 CET): Application deadline via Good Grants platform.
• November 2026: Eligibility check and proposal evaluation.
• Early December 2026: Shortlisting.
• By December 23, 2026: Notification of applicants regarding funding decisions.
• January – March 2027: Due diligence check, workplan and budget refinement, contract signing, and first tranche payout.
• April 1, 2027: Start of project implementation and contract period.
• December 31, 2028: End of project implementation.

1. Review the official Request for Proposals (RFP) document.
2. Register or log in to the online Good Grants platform at https://aidsfonds.org/news-stories/the-acthivate-fund-request-for-proposals/.
3. Complete the interactive application form in English.
4. Attach the completed template for the detailed budget and workplan.
5. Upload the full package of mandatory organizational supporting documents.
6. Submit the application through the platform by October 25, 2026, 23:59 CET.

• Overall Quality and Feasibility: Proposal quality, feasibility within timelines and budget, alignment with local context and ActHIVate fund goals.
• Relevance and Impact: Impact on improving access and quality of HIV healthcare services for target communities.
• Advocacy Track Record: Practical experience in advocacy related to HIV, health, and rights of MSM and trans communities.
• Contextual Alignment: Extent to which the project addresses existing gaps and opportunities in HIV field in the specific country.
• Organizational Capacity: Capacity to execute the project and monitor results (presence of PMEL/M&E systems, transparent governance, financial management).
• Cost-Effectiveness: Budget quality and financial investment-to-outcome ratio (cost-benefit).
• Portfolio Balance: Suitability of the proposal for creating a balanced overall portfolio for ActHIVate fund.

• Completed online application form in Good Grants.
• Detailed project budget and workplan.
• Statute / bylaws / constitution of the organization.
• Official registration certificate (or written justification / agreement with a fiscal host).
• Document proving legal representation and signing authority for the organization.
• Description of governance structure listing names and roles of key positions.
• Signed minutes of the most recent board meetings.
• Annual programmatic (narrative) reports for the last 2 years.
• Set of organizational policies: Integrity Policy, Whistleblower Policy, Code of Conduct, HR Manual.
• Organizational strategic document and fundraising strategy.
• Financial manual and procurement policy.
• Official bank account details.
• Audited financial statements for the last 2 years along with management letters from the auditor.
• Organizational budgets for 2024, 2025, and 2026.
• List of donors and income sources for the last 2 years indicating project timeframes.
• Signed partnership agreement or memorandum of understanding (in case of partnership applications or fiscal host involvement).

• Due Diligence Check: Mandatory assessment of organizational capacity and risks prior to contracting.
• Mandatory Internal Policies: Existence and adherence to Integrity Policy, Whistleblower Policy, Code of Conduct, HR Manual, Financial Manual, and Procurement Policy.
• Monitoring Systems: Operational planning, monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems (PMEL / M&E) integrated into the fund's Theory of Change.
• Reporting: Submission of annual narrative (programmatic) reports and audited financial reports.
• "Do No Harm" Principle: Strict adherence to safety measures for communities when disclosing information in public communications and fundraising.

• Legal Status and Registration: The organization must be officially registered as a non-governmental non-profit organization in the project implementation country. If registration is impossible due to severe legal restrictions, the applicant must provide official justification and apply through a registered fiscal host.
• Legal Regulation and Accountability: Signing a grant agreement with Aidsfonds creates a legal obligation for transparent use of funds according to the approved budget and passing a mandatory Due Diligence review.
• Internal Compliance: The organization must have approved internal policies: Statute, Integrity Policy, Whistleblower Policy, Code of Conduct, HR Manual, Financial Manual, and Procurement Policy.
• Data Protection and Community Safety: The organization is required to comply with beneficiary data privacy rules and the "Do No Harm" principle during media exposure and public campaigns.
• Prohibition of Sub-granting: Financial and legal terms strictly prohibit transferring or redistributing grant funds to third parties, except transfers between two official partners under an approved partnership agreement.
• Finality of Decisions: All decisions made by the Grant Committee regarding applicant selection are final and not subject to legal appeal or challenge.