The Enabling HIV/AIDS+TB and Social Sector Environment (ENHANSE) Project is a five-year (2004-2009) USAID programme that helps to create, strengthen and support the environment necessary for successful HIV/AIDS/Tuberculosis (TB) and social sector (health and basic education) programmes in Nigeria. The ENHANSE project will focus on national level policy development and planning, and also assist the Nigerian government to better link national, state and local programme delivery efforts.

The grant programme has been designed to build and strengthen the capacity of FBO/CSO/NGO (faith-based organisation/civil society organisation/non-governmental organisation) networks, universities and research institutions, parastatal organisations and other multiplier groups to carry out activities that support national level advocacy and policy dialogue for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and social sector programmes.

Grants are available in the following activity areas:

1. Grants to support advocacy activities (Ref code: EN/GT/001): ENHANSE will support FBO/CSO/NGO networks and other multiplier organisations to engage in activities that support and promote advocacy efforts and dialogue among policy makers on issues related to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support; child survival, population and reproductive health/ family planning, OVC and basic education.

2. Grants for policy planning and financing (Ref code: EN/GT/002): ENHANSE will support activities of multiplier organisations and NGO networks that facilitate the development and utilisation of relevant instruments that will enable ownership and implementation of national policy documents and guidelines on HIV/AIDS, health and basic education.

3. Grants to foster public-private, and private-private partnership (Ref code: EN/GT/003): ENHANSE will support NGO networks and new partnerships that demonstrate efficient leveraging of resources and know-how from the private sector as well as increasing local contributions to support development efforts in Nigeria. This includes activities that broaden the base of umbrella organisations to increase their memberships, increase their response on HIV/AIDS, health and education programmes and particularly engaging on leveraging local resources to support their programmes.

4. Grants to conduct enabling environment related training (Ref code: EN/GT/004): ENHANSE proposes to award grants to FBO/CSO/NGO networks and multiplier organisations that can conduct training and capacity building/mentoring for other CSO partners by way of stepping down skills and practices that can help the younger NGOs carry out their activities in the areas of HIV/AIDS and social sector services. This has specific reference to those NGOs and networks that have received capacity building funds from the POLICY II Project.

5. Grants for capacity building and institutional development needs (Ref code: EN/GT/005): ENHANSE will provide grants to support institutional development and capacity building needs of FBO/CSO/NGO network to enable them to adequately deliver effective and efficient programmes at the national level.

6. Grants to support policy related research (Ref code: EN/GT/006): According to ENHANSE, collection and use of data for decision-making is extremely important especially in development activities in Nigeria. In view of this, ENHANSE will provide grants to CSO networks, academic institutions and multiplier organisations to enable them carry out research activities that will inform policy decisions on HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, child survival, OVC and basic education.

Who should apply and conditions for acceptance:

Interested and qualified Nigerian FBO/CSO/NGO networks and multiplier organisations (who are registered with Corporate Affairs Commission or have evidence of their registration in progress, or registration with any other corporate bodies) are encouraged to indicate their interests through a formal letter to participate in the ENHANSE grants programme, focusing on any one of the areas itemised above. The letter of interest should be accompanied with a concept paper, not more than two pages (1000 words), which describes how they will address the issues in the grants areas of their choice as listed above.

The concept paper should include: a) Brief information about the organisation's history, b) programmes executed in the past, and c) institutional capacity including full contact addresses; d) the title of the proposal for which you are seeking the grant; e) background introduction; f) goal of the project; g) expected results/output and h) strategies/methods for achieving this goal.

Assessment:

The concept papers will be assessed and rated purely on merits for conciseness (10%), demonstration of a good understanding of issues to be addressed (45%) technical, administrative and programmatic competence to implement the proposed project (40%), and evidence of registration with CAC or other corporate bodies (5%).

EHNANSE provides equal opportunity to all qualified applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, health, religion or location.

The ENHANSE grants package ranges from USD $10,000.00 to USD $60,000.00 as shown in the following programme areas with 25% cost share (by grantees).

• HIV/Orphans & Vulnerable Children - USD $30,000.00
• HIV/Cross Cutting - USD $120,000.00
• Reproductive Health - USD $100,000.00
• Child Survival - USD $20,000.00
• Basic Education - USD $40,000.00

For more information on the application process please email or write to the ENHANSE Project - find below the contact information.