The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking feedback through a Request for Information (RFI) for an upcoming five-year Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Next Generation Activity in Tanzania. The initiative aims to improve access to health, HIV, social, and protection services for OVC and youth. The RFI invites comments on a draft program description, and while it solicits input from interested organizations, it does not commit USAID to issue a subsequent Request for Applications (RFA). Responses should be submitted via email by the specified deadline and must address specific questions regarding program goals, critical interventions, and barriers to service access, particularly related to age-based health and welfare services for at-risk populations. By acknowledging the potential challenges and capacity-building needs, USAID aims to refine its approach before any funding opportunities are formalized. All input received will be utilized solely for information gathering purposes and will be owned by USAID. The process underscores a collaborative effort to enhance the wellbeing of vulnerable children and youth in Tanzania.

The Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Next Generation Activity, funded by PEPFAR/Tanzania, aims to enhance health, protection, and well-being services for OVC and youth in high HIV burden communities in Tanzania's North Eastern and Lake Zones. The initiative targets improving access to health and social services to meet the 95-95-95 goals regarding HIV care and treatment by 2030. With approximately 3.2 million OVC in Tanzania facing increased vulnerability and poorer health outcomes, this five-year project will focus on increasing HIV case finding, treatment linkage, and community resilience among at-risk adolescent girls and young women. Key objectives include expanding the use of OVC platforms for better health outcomes, enhancing access to HIV and violence prevention services, and improving the socio-economic capacity of affected families. The program emphasizes integration with existing systems, gender-sensitive programming, and youth involvement. Furthermore, a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework will assess the effectiveness of interventions, contributing towards a self-reliant response to HIV in Tanzania. The initiative showcases a collaborative approach aligned with government strategies and supported by local stakeholders to foster sustainable outcomes for vulnerable populations.