Aidsfonds is pleased to pre-announce the launch for the first Request for Proposals (21 September 2026) as part of the ActHIVate Fund.
Men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans communities continue to face disproportionate rates of HIV infection and significant barriers to healthcare. Historically, HIV prevention and treatment services for these communities, as well as efforts to strengthen healthcare providers’ capacity to deliver inclusive and high-quality care, have been driven largely by community-led organisations and peer outreach initiatives. However, the organisations that have long sustained these efforts are now facing growing pressure. Funding cuts, hostile political environments, criminalisation, and shrinking civic space are threatening their ability to provide essential services and champion human rights.
Abrupt funding shifts, such as the suspension of US funding in 2025, pushed the global HIV response into a crisis and marked a new operating reality for community-led organisations. A structural trend is seen, the amount of official development assistance provided by OECD DAC members decreased by 23.1%, which is the largest drop ever recorded in a single year.
The impact of these shifts is already visible. Cuts to PEPFAR funding have had severe consequences for HIV service delivery. According to amfAR’s PEPFAR Pulse Study, investment in prevention sharply reduced, and with 51% less funding available 43% of service providers has to stop providing at least one prevention service. At least 1,700 health facilities have closed, while 73% of service providers have been forced to discontinue at least one component of their HIV programmes, disproportionately affecting key populations, including MSM and trans people.
The ActHIVate Fund has been developed through extensive consultations with MSM and trans community representatives. They consistently highlighted the urgent need for flexible, accessible funding to sustain HIV-related health services, reach underserved community members, and advocate for their inclusion in existing health systems.
ActHIVate is created to respond to this need.
Below is an introduction to the Request for Proposals. Please note that the full request will include the complete framework, eligibility criteria and detailed requirements.
ActHIVate will provide urgent funding to established MSM- and trans-led organisations operating in restrictive and criminalised settings, supporting:
The Fund will not only address immediate health needs but also demonstrate effective community-led approaches that can strengthen and influence existing health system responses over the long term. ActHIVate will provide flexible support, recognising that strong organisations need flexible resources and core support to deliver impact and sustain their work.
Registered local community organisations led by MSM and Trans community members, with proven substantial experience in provision of critical HIV service delivery to MSM and Trans communities and conducting advocacy for the health and rights of MSM and Trans communities, and engaging with local/national governments and health systems.
Unregistered organisations can also apply if they already have an established fiscal host.
Aidsfonds ensures communities play a central part in decision-making processes and investments. They know best what is needed and what works. The ActHIVate Fund grant decisions are made by a Grantmaking Committee, that is comprised of members external to Aidsfonds who are community leaders and experts from all the regions and communities this request for proposals covers. The aim is to create a well-balanced portfolio in terms of objectives, countries/regions, populations, and budgets.
Please note that a Q&A session will only be available once the full Request for Proposals is published.
Photo credits: Cynthia R. Matonhodze
Aidsfonds is proud to announce the first Request for Proposals under the ActHIVate Fund, a new pooled funding mechanism designed to strengthen community-led HIV responses for and by trans and men who have sex with men (MSM) communities in contexts where access to healthcare remains severely restricted.
Read more
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gilead Sciences and CIFF join Aidsfonds to help ensure new HIV prevention options reach those who need them most.
Read more
