March 29, 2021
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded $29 million (or P319 million) to five local organizations to implement activities under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program for a period of three years.
The launch serves as a platform for the U.S. government and the Government of Botswana to continue to celebrate their long-standing partnership in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and recognize the role of these five local organizations as key players in Botswana’s HIV response.
These organizations will continue to play a meaningful role implementing health programs in facilities and communities across Botswana. This work is carried out in collaboration with government and other civil society organizations.
These organizations are Stepping Stones International, Botswana Christian AIDS Intervention Programme, Hope Worldwide Botswana, Humana People to People, and Tebelopele Wellness Clinics.
The local organizations have been working with USAID for some years, receiving funding through international organizations, but have not been transitioned to receive direct USG funding.
As part of the PEPFAR mandate, support to local organizations should be increased as a model for sustainability and program ownership.
To meet these PEPFAR goals, USAID worked with two international organizations to ensure capacity-building for the five local organizations whose awards have been launched. Resources were allocated towards this work over several years to ensure readiness to efficiently manage U.S. government resources.
The organizations have different scopes of work with the key focus being to implement HIV testing, treatment, and prevention programs, as well as to educate communities on gender-based violence and facilitate access to comprehensive and client-focused services. They serve various groups including churches, vulnerable households, adolescent girls, young women, and those at high risk for contracting HIV as follows;
Tebelopele Wellness Clinics, implementing facility-focused HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care, and Treatment services at a total estimated amount of $6,000,000.00.
Humana People to People, implementing community-based HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care, and Treatment services at a total estimated amount of $5,241,611.
Botswana Christian AIDS Intervention Programme, implementing community-based HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services at a total estimated amount of $5,390,000.
Stepping Stones International, offering services to orphans and vulnerable children and their families as well as reaching adolescent girls and young women with HIV prevention interventions at a total estimated amount of $5,852,129.
Hope Worldwide Botswana, offering services to orphans and vulnerable children and their families as well as reaching adolescent girls and young women with HIV prevention interventions at a total estimated amount of $6,629,132.
The launch was aimed at recognizing the various technical inputs these local organizations contribute towards the country’s goal of achieving epidemic control, and introduce the newly awarded organizations to various stakeholders and key players to forge sustainable partnerships.
For additional information, please contact the U.S. Embassy Press Office at 373-2419 or PASGaborone@state.gov.
