Aidsfonds has launched the first ActHIVate Fund Request for Proposals, providing a total of €2 million in funding to strengthen community-led HIV responses for trans and men who have sex with men (MSM) communities in countries where access to healthcare remains severely restricted.
The funding opportunity is designed for community-led, not-for-profit civil society organisations with demonstrated experience in HIV-related health programming and advocacy. The initiative aims to help organisations sustain essential services, strengthen advocacy, build organisational capacity and respond to emerging needs.
The application deadline is 25 October 2026 at 23:59 CET.
About the ActHIVate Fund
The ActHIVate Fund is a new pooled funding mechanism established by Aidsfonds to support community-led organisations working in challenging environments.
Aidsfonds has committed €4 million over four years to the broader ActHIVate Fund, with €2 million available under this first funding round.
The fund recognises that community-led organisations require flexible resources not only to implement programmes but also to maintain operations, strengthen organisational systems and respond quickly to changing circumstances.
It also recognises the relationship between HIV service delivery and advocacy, supporting organisations that use health services as an entry point for strategic advocacy and broader systems change.
What Will the Funding Support?
ActHIVate seeks to strengthen community-led HIV responses through activities including:
- Sustaining HIV-related health services.
- Strategic advocacy.
- Strengthening community-led approaches within existing health systems.
- Organisational capacity strengthening.
- Maintaining essential organisational operations.
- Responding to emerging needs and opportunities.
- Connecting HIV service delivery with strategic advocacy.
The fund is intended to support organisations operating in contexts where communities face significant barriers to accessing healthcare and where civic space may be restricted.
Who Can Apply?
The call is open to community-led, not-for-profit civil society organisations that:
- Are led by and primarily serve MSM and trans communities.
- Have demonstrated experience in HIV-related health programming.
- Have experience in advocacy.
- Operate in one of the countries specified under this funding round.
- Are able to implement the proposed project within the required funding period.
Eligible countries are:
- Uganda
- Nigeria
- Morocco
- Egypt
- Lebanon
- Ukraine
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Moldova
Organisations should carefully review the full Request for Proposals to confirm all eligibility and organisational requirements before submitting an application.
Funding Available
The total funding available under this first ActHIVate Fund call is:
€2,000,000
The proposed project implementation period must run from:
1 April 2027 to 31 December 2028
Applicants should consult the full Request for Proposals for detailed information about the funding framework, eligible activities, application requirements and any restrictions.
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to submit their proposals in English through the Aidsfonds Good Grants platform.
Before applying, organisations should carefully review:
- The full Request for Proposals.
- The application questions.
- The Frequently Asked Questions.
- Eligibility requirements.
- Project implementation requirements.
- Funding conditions.
Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered, so organisations should allow sufficient time to complete the online application.
Online Q&A Session
Aidsfonds is organising an online Q&A session for prospective applicants.
Date: 30 September 2026
Time: 11:00–12:00 CEST
Languages: English, Arabic and Russian
Applicants can submit questions in advance. The deadline for submitting questions for the Q&A session is 27 September 2026.
Following the session, Aidsfonds will publish and regularly update a list of Frequently Asked Questions based on additional questions received.
Why This Funding Opportunity Matters
Community-led organisations often play an important role in reaching populations that experience barriers to conventional healthcare and HIV services. The ActHIVate Fund is structured to provide resources for both programme implementation and organisational strengthening.
The funding can therefore support organisations seeking to maintain HIV services while also strengthening advocacy, organisational resilience and community-led approaches within health systems.
How to Strengthen an Application
Eligible organisations should ensure that their proposal clearly demonstrates the connection between the identified community needs, proposed activities and expected outcomes.
Applicants should:
- Clearly describe the HIV-related challenges affecting the communities they serve.
- Demonstrate relevant experience in HIV programming and advocacy.
- Explain how the proposed intervention responds to identified needs.
- Clearly define expected results and outcomes.
- Demonstrate meaningful community leadership and participation.
- Explain how funding will strengthen organisational sustainability where relevant.
- Ensure the proposed activities fall within the fund’s requirements.
- Answer all application questions clearly and concisely.
- Review the full Request for Proposals and FAQs before submission.
Key Details
Funding opportunity: ActHIVate Fund – First Request for Proposals
Funder: Aidsfonds
Total funding: €2 million
Project period: 1 April 2027–31 December 2028
Eligible applicants: Community-led, not-for-profit civil society organisations
Primary communities: Trans and MSM communities
Eligible countries: Uganda, Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova
Application language: English
Application platform: Aidsfonds Good Grants
Deadline: 25 October 2026, 23:59 CET
Application Timeline
21 September 2026: Request for Proposals announced
27 September 2026: Deadline to submit questions for the Q&A
30 September 2026: Online Q&A session
25 October 2026: Application deadline
Mid-December 2026: Successful and unsuccessful applicants expected to be notified
1 April 2027: Proposed project implementation begins
How to Apply
Eligible organisations should prepare their application in accordance with the official Request for Proposals and submit it online through the Aidsfonds Good Grants application platform.
Applicants should ensure that their proposal is submitted in English and received before:
25 October 2026 at 23:59 CET
