National Aids Control Council (NACC) Request for Applications (RFA) for Operations Research Round 1

Office of the President
National Aids Control Council (NACC)

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Request for Applications (RFA) for Operations Research Round 1

Introduction

The National AIDS Control Council established KARSCOM (Kenya HIV and AIDS Research Coordinating Mechanism) to coordinate research on HIV and AIDS in accordance with the Kenya National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (KNASP) 2005/06 to 2009/10.

KARSCOM has developed and is implementing the HIV and AIDS Research Strategy, and part of the resources to implement it have been mobilized through World Bank funded Total War against HIV and AIDS (TOWA) Project Component 1. This RFA therefore relates to implementation of priority research through the TOWA Project.

The goal of this RFA is to promote evidence-based programming through operational researches emanating from Joint HIV and AIDS Programme Reviews.

KARSCOM is accepting proposals to undertake priority operational researches on the topics identified through the Joint HIV and AIDS Programme Review (JAPR) and by specific Monitoring and Coordination Groups as listed below:

1. Prevention of New Infections operational research priority areas

1.1 Abstinence and character formation among the youth; a situation analysis among the Faith Based Croups in Kenya. [The best one proposal will be funded]

2. Improvement of Quality of Life of people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS operational research priority areas

2.1 Determine the impact of ART on Health Delivery Systems including reduction of HIV and AIDS related bed occupancy. [The best one proposal will be funded]

3. Mitigation of Social and Economic Impact operational research priority areas

3.1 Conduct a situation analysis on HIV and AIDS among the elderly and their role in care giving. [The best one proposal will be funded]

3.2 Conduct a situation analysis on HIV and AIDS among the widows and widowers. The best one proposal will be funded]

3.3 Conduct a situation analysis on HIV and AIDS among the People with Disabilities (PWDs).[ The best one proposal will be funded]

3.4 Conduct a study on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other forms of gender based violence and determine their influence on HIV transmission among adolescents and youth. [The best one proposal will be funded]

3.5 Conduct a situation analysis on HIV and AIDS status in the private sector. [The best one proposal will be funded]

Application Process, Review and Funding

The applicant (individual researchers or research institutions) must submit proposals responding to the above research areas in line with the Guidelines for Management of Research Protocols and an addendum which has been incorporated to strengthen the proposal review process that can be accessed through the NACC website at http://www.nacc.or.ke or from the Division of Monitoring, Evaluation and Research of National AIDS Control Council.

Proposals to undertake the consultancies will be reviewed as outlined in the aforementioned document. The grant for each operational study is Ksh. 2 million and only the best one (1) proposal will be funded in each area. In addition, no individual researcher or research institution would be eligible for funding for more than one research proposal. The application processing fee is Ksh. 1000 Payable in cash at NACC accounts office but preferably by bankers cheque.

Applicants who had previously expressed their interest in the RFA are advised to refer to the aforementioned addendum to make an informed decision on whether or not to re-submit their proposals. Those applicants who wish to re-submit their modified proposals in line with the aforementioned addendum should collect their proposals from the Monitoring& Evaluation division, National AIDS Control Council.

Please be advised that those who had paid application fees of Ksh. 1000 will not be required to make another payment.

A photocopy of the receipt used for payment will however be required during re-submission.

Those who would not have collected or indicated willingness to collect their previously submitted proposals by April's, 2009 shall be deemed to have accepted that their proposal should proceed to the next level of evaluation Any questions may be submitted via email to bmundia@nacc.or.ke

Timelines and Deadline for Application for Operational research

The applications should reach the address below by close of the business on April 6, 2009. Please send your application to;

The Director,
National AIDS Control Council.
Landmark Plaza, Floor 9,
Argwings Kodhek Road,

P.O Box 61307-00200 Nairobi, Kenya.

Telephone; 2711261,2715144,

Fax 2711072,2711231

Please mark the envelop as follows: "Operational Research Proposal - Bound 1'