The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is currently soliciting applications for the Global Resilience against Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis programme to help USAID countries affected by tuberculosis improve the detection, treatment and prevention of drug-resistant tuberculosis through the development and implementation of innovative approaches and practices, and the provision of expert technical assistance to local partners and national tuberculosis programmes.

In addition, the activity will help countries to meet the commitments they made at the 2023 meeting of the United Nations High-Level Panel on Climate Change. tuberculosiss Global Strategy to Stop TB 2023-2030. USAID. As a result, this activity will reduce the burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis by improving rapid detection, treatment and prevention activities, while building a sustainable and resilient system using equitable, inclusive and accessible local organisations and approaches.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a serious form of tuberculosis that occurs when resistance to the main drugs used to treat the disease develops. medicines resistant tuberculosis has developed and requires treatment with a new combination of drugs called second-line drugs (SLD). The prevention, diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis is one of the main priorities of the Strategy USAID's Global TB Plan 2023-2030, as well as the United Nations High Level Meeting on TB. By the end of 2030, USAID strives to reach, detect, and recruit into treatment at least 90 % of estimated drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB cases, and to successfully and appropriately treat 90 % of these individuals in priority TB control countries.

Objectives

• Activity provides comprehensive technical assistance to local organizations, NTPs and Ministries of Health in the 24 priority countries identified by USAID to address the epidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis. The activity will assist countries in developing equitable strategies and inclusive approaches to the response to drug-resistant TB, in the in-depth analysis of data and statistics on drug-resistant TB, in the development of targeted short- and long-term action plans for drug-resistant TB, and in providing comprehensive technical assistance throughout the implementation of these plans. In addition, the activity will provide rapid response and short-term on-demand technical assistance to both the 24 priority TB control countries and the 32 Global Fund to Fight TB countries, to help improve the performance of Global Fund to Fight TB grants.
• The activity will achieve the following objectives:
  • Objective 1: Strengthening the capacity of local organisations to lead the response to drug-resistant TB at national and sub-national levels through enhanced partnerships with NTPs and other key stakeholders:
    • Under this activity, comprehensive technical assistance, training and mentoring of local national and sub-national organisations is a priority to enable them to lead national and sub-national responses to TB through policy development and overall implementation. To this end, the activity aims to provide targeted technical assistance to local organisations and sub-national entities to strengthen their technical and programmatic capacity to address drug-resistant TB among marginalised, under-represented, vulnerable and high-risk populations, both for short-term on-demand requests and for long-term ongoing efforts. Technical support and specific interventions will be determined by the local partner in consultation with NTP and USAID missions. Technical support will be aligned with the NSP and based on action plans developed from evidence-based analyses and assessments. The types of local organisations that will be supported by the activity may vary according to the national landscape and NTP priorities.
    • Expected results :
      • Strengthening the capacity of local organisations to provide support for the detection, treatment and prevention of drug-resistant tuberculosis;
      • Improving the capacity of private sector entities to provide services for the detection, treatment and prevention of drug-resistant tuberculosis;
      • Greater involvement of workers and community organisations in the provision of services to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis; and
      • Strengthening links between local organisations and the NTP and other key stakeholders.
  • Objective 2: Improving the quality of host governments' drug-resistant tuberculosis control programmes at national and sub-national levels:
    • The activity will involve all levels of the NTP, including national and regional TB reference laboratories, central and regional levels of the NTP, as well as health care providers at district level. Technical support and interventions can then be carried forward and integrated into the next GF grant cycle, the NSP, national guidelines and local partner implementation plans to ensure continuity and sustainability of technical support.
    • Expected results :
      • Strengthening and improving the organisational and technical capacity of the host country government to manage the programme to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis;
      • Strengthening the capacity of medical advisory committees and other treatment bodies to advise on advanced and complicated clinical cases of tuberculosis;
      • Improve approaches to the detection, treatment and prevention of drug-resistant tuberculosis that are innovative, equitable, inclusive and accessible, and that meet international standards;
      • Improving data and information systems for the programme to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis; and
      • Expanded approaches to enable vulnerable groups to access high-quality services to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis that are integrated into the delivery of primary healthcare services.
  • Objective 3: Improved knowledge management through the development of specialised on-demand tools, evidence-based approaches and tailored training at global and regional levels:
    • The diagnosis, treatment and prevention of drug-resistant tuberculosis are evolving rapidly as a result of new evidence, tools and approaches in global and regional research efforts that have led to changes in international policies and guidelines. In order to operationalise these innovations, policies and guidelines need to be translated quickly and effectively into practical implementation at national level. This may involve adapting guidelines and developing standard operating procedures (SOPs), training trainers plans and ensuring faster adoption. It may involve the introduction of new diagnostic equipment, the application of new drugs and new treatment options, as well as preventive approaches for people affected by resistant TB.
    • Expected results :
      • Development and deployment of new evidence and guidelines using innovative tools and approaches;
      • Strengthening the capacity of key stakeholders to rapidly adopt and deploy new evidence and guidelines, including monitoring alignment with international standards on a regular basis; and
      • Improving the availability of information and strengthening knowledge sharing between countries on evidence-based approaches to drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Information on funding

• USAID intends to provide a total of 90,000,000.00 $ of USAID funding.
• The planned implementation period is five years.

Geographical orientation

• It is anticipated that approximately 85 % of the technical support provided under this activity will be country specific, with the remaining 15 % being global or regional level technical support. It is estimated that over 80 % of the country-specific work takes place in USAID's 24 priority TB countries, with the remainder in the 32 TA countries.
• Africa, comprising the following countries Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania,
• Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Madagascar, Namibia, Niger, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan.
• Asia, including the following countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal and Mongolia.
• Eurasia and Central Asia, comprising the following countries: Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova: Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova.

Eligibility criteria

• Eligibility for this NOFO is full and open competition with no restrictions; therefore, open to all eligible and qualified US, local and international non-governmental entities.
• Profit is not permitted for recipients or subrecipients of this award. Although for-profit organizations may participate, in accordance with 2 CFR 700.13 (a) (1), "Prohibition on Profits," no profit or fee will be paid to any entity or organization receiving or administering federal financial assistance as a recipient or subrecipient (consortium partner). The applicant/recipient is responsible for complying with all applicable U.S. and host government laws and regulations.
• USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received USAID funding. Faith-based organizations may apply for federal funding in the same manner as any other organization and are subject to the protections and requirements of federal law.
• The applicant is reminded that United States Presidential Executive Orders and United States laws prohibit transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organisations associated with terrorism. It is the legal responsibility of the recipient to ensure compliance with these orders and laws.
• A cost-share is required as part of this potential award. USAID has established a mandatory recipient cost share for this award at a minimum of 2 % of the anticipated award amount of 90,000,000.00 $ (i.e., the minimum cost share amount is 1,800,000.00 $). These funds may be provided directly by the beneficiary; other multilateral, bilateral and foundation donors; host governments; and local organisations, communities and private companies that contribute financially and in kind to the implementation of activities at national level.

For more information, please visit Grants.gov.