About the opportunity
The ActHIVate Fund by Aidsfonds provides urgent funding and core support to established men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans-led community organisations operating in restrictive and criminalised settings. Created in response to abrupt global funding shifts and shrinking civic space, the fund aims to sustain critical HIV-related healthcare service delivery, drive strategic advocacy, and integrate MSM- and trans-friendly services into existing health systems. Grant decisions are guided by an external Grantmaking Committee comprising community leaders and experts from the regions covered, supporting a total of up to 20 awards for the first request for proposals.
Funding and benefits
- Total funding available for the first request for proposals is €2,000,000, covering a 1-year and 9-month period from April 2027 to December 2028.
- Up to 20 applications will be awarded grants.
- Flexible support and core organisational strengthening resources to sustain essential operations and impact.
Who can apply?
- Registered local community organisations led by men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans community members.
- Organisations must have proven substantial experience in providing critical HIV service delivery to MSM and trans communities, conducting health and rights advocacy, and engaging with local or national governments and health systems.
- Unregistered organisations can apply if they have an established fiscal host.
- Implementation must take place within Uganda, Nigeria, or selected countries in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) and Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) regions.
Required documents
- Full proposal documentation as specified in the full Request for Proposals upon its publication.
When to apply
- Full Request for Proposals published and Grants portal open: 21 September 2026
- Full proposal submission deadline: 25 October 2026
- Funding decision: mid-December 2026
- Start implementation: March/April 2027
How to apply
- Wait for the full Request for Proposals and grants portal to open on 21 September 2026.
- Submit the full proposal through the online grants portal by the deadline of 25 October 2026.
Additional information
- In-scope activities include HIV service delivery, allied health services, building evidence for advocacy, advocacy to reduce health barriers, service integration, and core organisational strengthening.
- Out-of-scope items include multi-country or regional work engaging more than one country, large-scale health system improvements, procurement of medicines, vaccines, PrEP, or ART, conference attendance and hosting, large capital purchases, and research without a clear advocacy or service-delivery purpose.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Established local community organisations led by MSM or trans individuals operating in Uganda, Nigeria, or eligible EECA and SWANA countries.
- Organisations seeking flexible core support and funding to sustain vital HIV healthcare delivery or advocacy under challenging political or funding conditions.
- Teams with a proven track record of engaging with local or national health systems and governments to protect key population health rights.
What should you think carefully about?
- The application window is relatively short, opening on September 21, 2026, and closing on October 25, 2026.
- Activities are strictly limited to single-country implementation within the specified target regions without multi-country scope.
- Certain operational expenditures like large capital purchases, medical procurement, and academic research without advocacy goals are excluded from funding.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This funding opportunity provides critical breathing room and core capacity for community-led organisations facing severe funding contractions and hostile environments. It supports immediate healthcare service delivery while enabling strategic advocacy to secure long-term health system integration for vulnerable communities.
Our take
Local MSM- and trans-led community organisations in the designated target regions with active grassroots healthcare and advocacy experience should seriously consider applying before the October 25, 2026 deadline. Organisations seeking multi-country funding or capital infrastructure investments will find this call unsuitable.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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