HIV, the leading cause of AIDS, has become a major catastrophe in Africa. The impact affects all aspects of our development –health, education, agriculture and national - economies. Estimates by UNAIDS[1] show that five percent or more of the age group 15-49 years old in Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Cameroon, Togo and Burkina Faso are already affected. There is hardly any country in the sub-region where HIV/AIDS does not occur. Evidence of the disease is becoming increasingly obvious in our societies. The call has been sounded for all sectors –health and non-health –to join in the fight to mitigate the further spread and negative impacts HIV/AIDS is having in Africa.

HIV/AIDS and Agriculture

Agriculture and related activities provide livelihood opportunities, food security and nutrition for millions of urban and rural communities in Africa. HIV/AIDS therefore has direct significant implications through its effects on agriculture. Upstream, the absence of adequate livelihoods plays catalytic role in triggering off-farm behavior implicated in increasing risk of infection. Downstream, adequate nutrition and dietary intake have been reported to play important roles in prolonging the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS.

The West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA), as well as other institutions of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)[2], recognizes firstly, the real and potential impacts of the pandemic on capabilities within Sub-Saharan Africa to attain food security. Secondly, the significance of livelihoods options and the role of inadequate nutrition as engines stimulating the morbidity following HIV infection and further spread of the disease in the continent.

Purpose of the Grants

WARDA, with support from donors, is making available competitive grants to interested institutions. The grants aim at catalyzing the capacity within the agricultural R&D sector toward using agriculture, food and nutrition intervention at the household/community level as tools in mitigating the impact and further spread of HIV/AIDS.

The grants will support specific activities with potential benefits in the short term, aimed at HIV/AIDS from an agricultural, land use, food/nutrition security or environment perspective, integrated with public and community health issues. Examples might include (but are not limited to) one or more of the following:

Rapid appraisal/survey of farmer communities on "Perceptions of prolonged ill-health among farmers (ages 15-49 years) and linkages to farm operations."
Assessment of vulnerability of livelihood support systems of farmer communities.
Awareness-raising within NARES workforce.
Preparations of country papers on HIV/AIDS and national food security.

Eligibility for the WARDA funds

Geographical domain

Proposal concept notes are invited from national agricultural research and extension (NARES) institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), faith-based organizations (FBOs) from within the WARDA member states. Proposed fieldwork must be conducted within the geographical coverage of WARDA.

Technical domain

Individuals and institutions applying should have experience in operations research related to agriculture, health or social sciences, but not necessarily specializing in any one of the domains. Proposals should add HIV/AIDS dimensions into ongoing activities on–or related to– food security and livelihood support systems of 'at-risk' communities.

Institutional commitment

In as much as individuals can compete for the funds, preference would be given to applications in which the principal investigator is from institution/organization located in the sub-region. A support letter from the head of the institution must accompany the application.

Technical structure of proposals

Situation analysis

1.Economic indices: Gender disaggregated national populations (age, sex), GDP, Human development index (HDI), and poverty situation[3]. Give only brief description and avoid specific details.

2.Role of agriculture as an engine of growth and national economy. Predominant agriculture, forestry and fisheries production systems. Levels of automation/mechanization, dependence of each sub-sector on human labor and their contribution to urban and community livelihoods. Fraction of national population employed by agricultural and rural industries. Food and calorie intakes per capita and their principal sources (crops species and livestock).

3. Disease burden: National statistical estimates and HIV/AIDS epidemiological trends. On-going HIV-related activities in the country (irrespective of the sector) and the direction and level of government involvement. Potential or real linkages between agricultural development (or the lack of it) on 'risk of infection,' vis-à-vis current action or inaction by other sectors.

Programmatic

1. Rationale for the proposal and planned activities, which should include e.g. for research oriented proposals, the research questions or hypothesis, activities to respond to the question and expected impact of the intervention study. For action/sensitization oriented proposals, the target audience, methodology, expected impacts and impact indicators. Opportunity and convincing strategy for the intervention against HIV/AIDS from agriculture and livelihood perspectives should be highlighted.

2. Links and complementarities to existing work. What links are there between this proposal and other current activities of your organization or other institutions in the country? Show how this proposal would provide added value and/or synergy with those efforts.

3. Section on methods for implementing the work and timelines. This should be briefly followed by section on evaluation of results/activities including indicators and data collection methods. It is recommended that activities should be conducted within a 12-month period from date of receipt of funds.

4. Budgets: An illustrative budget with major categories itemized. Due to funding limitation, total budget should be in the range of US$ 1000 - 2000, which should be utilized within 12 months.

5. List of investigators: Include a list of all investigators (names, position titles & e-mail addresses) and brief description of their organizations (about 5 - 10 lines per organization). As much as possible, principal investigator should obtain a letter of support from his/her institution.

Application method

Proposal submission

Proposal concept papers should be 10 - 15 (max) pages long, including all applicable tables and graphics. Proposals may be written in either English or French. Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated as they are received. We also encourage you to send electronic versions (by email) followed by hard-copies (fax or post) to:

Dr. Frank Abamu

Agronomist & Focal Point on HIV/AIDS

WARDA-ADRAO,

01 BP 4029

Abidjan 01, Côte d'Ivoire

Phone: (225)-22-41-4436; (225)-22-41-0606

Fax: (225)-22-41-1807

Email: f.abamu@cgiar.org

Proposal review process

1. Technical review: The WARDA HIV/AIDS coordination office would receive all applications and determine whether applications are complete and fulfill eligibility criteria. The Focal Point on HIV/AIDS will advise applicants accordingly and forward applications to a technical review team at WARDA for review and recommendations for final decision. Members of the HIV/AIDS Task Force at WARDA serve as technical review team.

2. Review criteria: Successful proposals will in general demonstrate:

· Soundness of approach

· Feasibility with respect to implementation plan and budget

· Potential for programmatic sustainability

· Evaluation and analysis.

Outcome of proposal review

Proposals will be screened and successful bids will be notified by e-mail/fax, followed by funds disbursement. The turn-around time for these may be up to 4-6 weeks. Where proposals are not approved for funding, we will indicate the reasons and encourage the applicants to upgrade and resubmit.