Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2049
This funding opportunity, titled "Optimizing Human Resources for Health to Sustain Epidemic Control in Malawi under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)" (Funding Opportunity Number: CDC RFA GH20-2049), is a CDC cooperative agreement designed to strengthen Malawi's health workforce and HIV service delivery, particularly through the Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM). The overall intent is to help sustain HIV and TB epidemic control by increasing the number of trained health care workers placed in high-volume facilities, improving the quality of preservice training, and boosting HIV service performance in faith-based facilities that often serve remote communities where government health services may be limited or absent.
On funding, the notice specifies that the Year 1 award ceiling is listed as $0 (none), while also stating CDC anticipates approximately $3,000,000 in total fiscal year funding for Year 1, contingent on funds being available. The opportunity anticipates making a single award. As a cooperative agreement, the project would typically involve substantial CDC engagement during implementation, meaning the recipient is expected to coordinate closely with CDC on planning, monitoring, and performance improvements rather than operating in a fully independent grant model.
A central component of the award is expanding and optimizing the health workforce pipeline by providing tuition support through CHAM training institutions. The goal is to increase the supply of health care workers and improve staffing levels in high-volume service settings that carry a large share of HIV and TB workload. Alongside tuition support, the opportunity emphasizes improving the quality of training itself, including strengthening faculty support at CHAM institutions. In practical terms, this points to investments in teaching capacity, instructional quality, supervision, and other elements that affect whether new graduates are competent, confident, and ready to deliver priority HIV/TB services immediately upon placement.
The opportunity also targets HIV service delivery improvements at CHAM faith-based health facilities, with special attention to hard-to-reach areas. These facilities are positioned as critical access points for sustaining epidemic control in communities that might otherwise be underserved. The NOFO aligns with CDC priority districts and is framed as supporting and strengthening existing programming rather than creating an entirely separate service platform, which signals a focus on scaling proven interventions and tightening implementation quality where gaps remain.
On HIV case finding and diagnosis, the NOFO prioritizes increasing uptake of HIV index testing through more active index testing approaches, expanded provider-initiated testing and counseling (PITC) to the point of saturation, and use of HIV self-testing. This mix is intended to raise testing coverage, identify undiagnosed people living with HIV more efficiently, and reach individuals who may not test through routine facility pathways. By emphasizing saturation of PITC, the opportunity implies a push for consistent, systematic offers of HIV testing across clinical entry points, reducing missed opportunities for diagnosis.
Retention and treatment continuity are addressed through support for the "back to care" program within CHAM facilities. The explicit objective is to ensure clients who are lost to follow-up (LTFU) are identified, contacted, returned to services, and then maintained in ongoing care. This focus reflects the reality that epidemic control depends not only on diagnosing people but also on sustained antiretroviral therapy adherence and long-term retention, which drive viral suppression and reduce onward transmission.
Viral load (VL) testing is another major area, especially in light of Malawi's annual VL policy, which is expected to increase VL testing volume and workload. The NOFO highlights the need to improve VL testing quality and shorten turnaround times in CHAM facilities so results are returned to clients promptly. Faster, reliable VL results support timely clinical decision-making, including adherence counseling and regimen changes when needed, and they strengthen the overall performance of the treatment cascade by ensuring that viral suppression is measured and acted on rather than delayed by logistics or quality issues.
Finally, the NOFO includes a client education and community-literacy component around viral suppression and the Undetectable = Untransmittable concept, referenced as the UU/TT initiative (including the local phrasing "Tizolombo Tochepa Thanzi Labwino"). By educating people living with HIV about viral load and viral suppression, the program aims to increase understanding, reduce stigma, improve motivation to stay on treatment, and reinforce the prevention benefits of sustained suppression. Taken together, the workforce investments, targeted facility support, intensified testing strategies, LTFU tracing and return-to-care activities, VL quality improvements, and UU/TT literacy efforts are positioned to reinforce one another in a single package focused on sustaining HIV/TB epidemic control in Malawi through CHAM-linked training institutions and service delivery sites.
Administrative details included in the source information indicate the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, with CFDA number 93.067, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through CDC (Center for Global Health). The original posting date was January 15, 2020, with an original application due date of March 15, 2020, and electronic submissions due by 11:59 p.m. ET on the deadline. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with clarification referenced in the full eligibility text of the NOFO.Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2049
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Optimizing Human Resources for Health to Sustain Epidemic Control in Malawi under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.067.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 15, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 15, 2020 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Optimizing Human Resources for Health to Sustain Epidemic Control in Malawi under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)."
What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number (NOFO) is CDC RFA GH20-2049.
Which U.S. agency is offering this award?
This is a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) award, administered within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically through CDC's Center for Global Health.
What type of award is this?
This opportunity is a CDC cooperative agreement. That generally means substantial CDC involvement during implementation, with the recipient coordinating closely with CDC on planning, monitoring, and performance improvements rather than operating fully independently.
What is the overall purpose of the program?
The overall intent is to help sustain HIV and TB epidemic control in Malawi by strengthening the health workforce and improving HIV service delivery, with a major focus on faith-based service delivery platforms linked to the Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM).
Why is CHAM specifically emphasized?
CHAM is highlighted because its training institutions and faith-based health facilities are positioned as critical access points for HIV and TB services, especially in remote or hard-to-reach communities where government health services may be limited or absent.
What are the main program components described in the opportunity?
Key components include: expanding the health workforce pipeline via tuition support through CHAM training institutions; improving preservice training quality (including faculty support); increasing placement of trained health care workers in high-volume facilities; improving HIV service performance at CHAM facilities; strengthening HIV case finding through index testing, PITC saturation, and self-testing; supporting "back to care" efforts for clients lost to follow-up; improving viral load testing quality and turnaround times; and boosting client/community literacy on viral suppression and U=U (UU/TT).
How does the opportunity address health workforce shortages?
It emphasizes increasing the number of trained health care workers placed in high-volume facilities by supporting the pipeline through tuition support at CHAM training institutions and by strengthening training quality so graduates are ready to deliver priority HIV/TB services when placed.
What does "tuition support" refer to in this opportunity?
The opportunity describes providing tuition support through CHAM training institutions as a way to expand and optimize the preservice training pipeline and increase the supply of health care workers.
How does the opportunity plan to improve preservice training quality?
It specifically notes improving training quality and strengthening faculty support at CHAM institutions, pointing toward investments in teaching capacity, instructional quality, supervision, and related elements that affect graduate competency and readiness.
What types of facilities are prioritized for workforce placement?
The opportunity prioritizes high-volume facilities that carry a large share of HIV and TB workload, aiming to improve staffing levels in settings with heavy service demand.
How does the NOFO approach HIV service delivery in faith-based facilities?
It targets HIV service delivery improvements at CHAM faith-based health facilities, with special attention to hard-to-reach areas, and frames the work as strengthening existing programming rather than building a separate parallel service platform.
What does alignment with "CDC priority districts" mean in this context?
The NOFO notes alignment with CDC priority districts, indicating that activities are expected to focus on districts prioritized by CDC for HIV/TB epidemic control efforts.
How does the opportunity propose to improve HIV case finding and diagnosis?
It prioritizes increasing uptake of HIV index testing through more active index testing approaches, expanding provider-initiated testing and counseling (PITC) to the point of saturation, and using HIV self-testing to increase testing coverage and identify undiagnosed people more efficiently.
What is meant by "PITC saturation"?
In this NOFO, PITC saturation implies a push for consistent, systematic offers of HIV testing across clinical entry points to reduce missed opportunities for HIV diagnosis within routine facility care pathways.
What is HIV index testing as referenced here?
HIV index testing is referenced as a priority case-finding approach, with the NOFO emphasizing more active index testing approaches to increase uptake and identify undiagnosed individuals.
How is HIV self-testing used in this program description?
HIV self-testing is included as part of the testing mix intended to raise overall coverage and reach individuals who may not test through routine facility pathways.
What is the "back to care" program mentioned in the NOFO?
The NOFO describes supporting the "back to care" program within CHAM facilities to identify clients lost to follow-up (LTFU), contact them, return them to services, and maintain them in ongoing care.
What does LTFU mean?
LTFU refers to "lost to follow-up," meaning clients who have dropped out of care and need to be identified and re-engaged in treatment services.
Why is retention and treatment continuity a focus of this award?
The NOFO ties epidemic control to more than diagnosis alone, emphasizing sustained antiretroviral therapy adherence and long-term retention as essential for viral suppression and for reducing onward HIV transmission.
What viral load (VL) activities are emphasized?
The NOFO highlights improving viral load testing quality and shortening turnaround times in CHAM facilities, especially because Malawi's annual VL policy is expected to increase VL testing volume and workload.
Why does VL turnaround time matter in the NOFO's framing?
Faster, reliable VL results support timely clinical decision-making, including adherence counseling and regimen changes when needed, and help ensure viral suppression is measured and acted on without long delays.
What is the client education and community literacy component?
The NOFO includes client education and community-literacy efforts on viral suppression and the Undetectable = Untransmittable concept, referenced as the UU/TT initiative, including the local phrasing "Tizolombo Tochepa Thanzi Labwino."
What is UU/TT in this opportunity?
UU/TT refers to the U=U concept (Undetectable = Untransmittable) as framed in the NOFO, with the aim of improving understanding of viral load and viral suppression, reducing stigma, and reinforcing the prevention benefits of sustained suppression.
How do the different components fit together?
The NOFO presents the workforce pipeline, facility support, intensified testing, return-to-care activities, VL quality/turnaround improvements, and UU/TT literacy as reinforcing elements in a single package intended to sustain HIV/TB epidemic control in Malawi through CHAM-linked training institutions and service delivery sites.
How much funding is available in Year 1?
The notice states the Year 1 award ceiling is listed as $0 (none), while also stating CDC anticipates approximately $3,000,000 in total fiscal year funding for Year 1, contingent on funds being available.
What does it mean that the Year 1 award ceiling is listed as $0?
Based on the information provided, the NOFO includes a stated Year 1 award ceiling of $0 (none) while also indicating anticipated Year 1 total funding of about $3,000,000 if funds are available. The presence of both statements suggests applicants should rely on the NOFO details and the availability of funds as described.
How many awards does CDC expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates making a single award.
Is this considered discretionary funding?
Yes. The administrative details describe the opportunity as discretionary funding.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.067.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with a note that clarification is referenced in the full eligibility text of the NOFO.
When was the opportunity originally posted?
The original posting date was January 15, 2020.
What was the original application due date?
The original application due date was March 15, 2020.
What time were electronic submissions due?
Electronic submissions were due by 11:59 p.m. ET on the deadline date stated in the NOFO.
What geographic area is the program focused on?
The program is focused on Malawi, with emphasis on CHAM-linked training institutions and faith-based health facilities, including those serving hard-to-reach areas.
Is the focus only HIV, or also TB?
The opportunity is framed around sustaining HIV and TB epidemic control, with program elements heavily described around HIV testing, treatment continuity, viral load monitoring, and related service delivery performance in facilities carrying HIV/TB workload.
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