Aidsfonds ActHIVate Fund Request for Proposals 2027–2028

Who can apply

• Community-led not-for-profit civil society organisations
• Organisations led by men who have sex with men and/or trans community members
• Organisations primarily serving MSM and/or trans communities
• Locally registered organisations in one of the nine eligible countries
• Unregistered eligible organisations applying through an appropriate fiscal host
• Community-based organisations
• Non-governmental organisations
• Networks, coalitions and alliances meeting the community-leadership requirements
• Partnerships of up to two eligible organisations with an established record of working together and complementary expertise
• Organisations with substantial experience delivering HIV-related healthcare services to MSM and/or trans communities
• Organisations with experience conducting advocacy for the health and right to health of MSM and/or trans communities
• Organisations with experience engaging governments or health systems on HIV-related healthcare
• Organisations that had an annual organisational budget of at least €30,000 in at least one of the years 2024, 2025 or 2026

Focus areas

• Community-led HIV responses
• HIV prevention
• HIV treatment access
• HIV treatment adherence
• MSM-responsive HIV services
• Trans-responsive HIV services
• Community-led healthcare service delivery
• Strategic HIV advocacy
• Health and right-to-health advocacy
• Health-system accountability
• Integration of community-led services into health systems
• Inclusive HIV policies and guidelines
• Healthcare-provider sensitisation
• Community-led health-service models
• Linkages to HIV treatment
• Mental health support
• Stigma and discrimination in healthcare
• Advocacy against punitive laws and policies affecting healthcare access
• Health budget and policy influence
• Community evidence for advocacy
• Health-system partnerships
• Organisational strengthening
• Core operational support
• Community resilience
• Intersectional approaches involving other key populations

Requirements

• The proposed project must be implemented in one eligible country only.
• Multi-country and regional projects are not eligible.
• The applicant must be led by MSM and/or trans community members with meaningful authority over programme and budget decisions.
• The organisation’s mission and vision must support the health and right to health of communities most affected by HIV.
• The applicant must demonstrate a substantial track record in HIV-related healthcare service delivery, advocacy or health-system engagement involving MSM and/or trans communities.
• The proposal must contribute to both HIV-related service delivery and strategic advocacy.
• Applicants must demonstrate how service delivery and advocacy reinforce one another.
• The proposed activities must respond to current HIV-related healthcare needs and access barriers affecting MSM and trans communities.
• The proposal should build on the organisation’s existing work and longer-term strategy rather than constitute an unrelated standalone initiative.
• The project should avoid duplicating activities already supported by the Global Fund, PEPFAR or other major donors.
• The organisation must have had an annual organisational budget above €30,000 in at least one of the years 2024, 2025 or 2026.
• The annual grant requested cannot normally exceed the organisation’s average annual budget for 2024, 2025 and 2026.
• The full requested grant must be between €52,500 and €140,000 for the April 2027–December 2028 period.
• Up to 60% of the requested budget may be allocated to core operational costs and organisational strengthening.
• Sub-granting is not permitted, except for transfers between the two organisations in an approved partnership.
• An organisation may participate in only one application, either as lead applicant or partner.
• Partnership applications may include no more than two organisations.
• Applications must be completed in English.
• Applications must be submitted through the official Aidsfonds Good Grants platform.
• The proposed implementation period must run between 1 April 2027 and 31 December 2028.
• Selected applicants must successfully complete Aidsfonds due diligence before contracting.

Application steps

• Review the official ActHIVate Request for Proposals and eligibility criteria.
• Confirm that the organisation is led by and primarily serves MSM and/or trans communities.
• Confirm that the organisation operates in one of the nine eligible countries.
• Confirm that the organisation meets the minimum organisational-budget requirement.
• Determine the appropriate grant amount based on the organisation’s 2024, 2025 and 2026 budgets.
• Review the official list of application questions available from the Aidsfonds call page.
• Develop a proposal connecting HIV-related service delivery with strategic advocacy and longer-term healthcare access.
• Prepare the project budget for the implementation period from 1 April 2027 to 31 December 2028.
• Create or access an account on the Aidsfonds Good Grants application platform.
• Complete the online application in English.
• Provide all information and supporting documentation requested through the application system.
• Submit the complete application through the Good Grants platform by 25 October 2026 at 23:59 CET.
• Shortlisted applicants should be prepared to provide organisational governance, registration, policy, financial and programme documents during due diligence.
• Selected applicants may be asked to refine their workplan and budget before contracting.
• Final funding decisions are expected to be communicated before 23 December 2026.