Scaling Up Prevention, Oversight, Reach and Treatment of Tuberculosis in Zimbabwe (SUPPORT-TB) Activity | 72061324RFA00001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the SUPPORT-TB funding opportunity?

The Scaling Up Prevention, Oversight, Reach and Treatment of Tuberculosis in Zimbabwe (SUPPORT-TB) Activity is a USAID Zimbabwe (USAID-Harare) funding opportunity focused on strengthening Zimbabwe's national response to tuberculosis (TB) and improving health outcomes for people and communities affected by TB.

2) What type of award is this?

This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. In practice, that typically means USAID expects to stay actively involved during implementation through ongoing collaboration, technical engagement, and performance oversight rather than issuing a grant and stepping back.

3) Who is the funding agency?

The funding agency is USAID Zimbabwe, listed as USAID-Harare.

4) What is the overall purpose of the activity?

The activity is intended to strengthen the TB response across Zimbabwe by improving how TB is found (case detection), treated and managed (case management), prevented (prevention of infection and progression), and overseen (planning, coordination, monitoring, and quality assurance within local systems).

5) Who is expected to benefit from SUPPORT-TB?

The activity is designed to benefit individuals with TB as well as health workers, families, and communities by strengthening TB services and the broader health system functions that support TB outcomes.

6) How many program objectives are included, and how do they fit together?

There are four linked objectives. Together, they cover the full TB care and prevention continuum: improving detection of TB cases, strengthening treatment and follow-up, preventing new infections and progression to disease, and reinforcing the systems used to plan, coordinate, monitor, and assure the quality of TB services.

7) What does Objective 1 (improve TB case detection) emphasize?

Objective 1 prioritizes finding more people with TB earlier and more reliably, including people who might be missed by routine services. The description highlights areas such as improved screening approaches, stronger diagnostic networks and referral pathways, increased demand for testing, and reducing barriers that delay identification and diagnosis.

8) Why is improving case detection treated as a priority?

Because undiagnosed or late-diagnosed TB contributes to ongoing transmission and can lead to worse outcomes for individuals. Earlier and more reliable detection supports both public health impact and patient outcomes.

9) What does Objective 2 (strengthen TB case management for all forms of TB) involve?

Objective 2 signals a comprehensive approach to treatment and clinical follow-up across different TB presentations. It includes ensuring patients are started on appropriate regimens, supported to complete treatment, monitored for response and side effects, and managed effectively if complications occur.

10) What is meant by "all forms of TB" in this opportunity?

Based on the description, "all forms of TB" points to addressing drug-susceptible TB as well as more complex forms such as drug-resistant TB, and ensuring services function effectively across different populations and clinical contexts.

11) Does Objective 2 include service quality and continuity of care?

Yes. The description of stronger case management also implies improvements in service quality, continuity of care, patient support, and coordination between facilities and community-based systems to reduce the risk that people fall out of care.

12) What does Objective 3 (prevention) focus on?

Objective 3 focuses on preventing new TB infections and stopping TB infection from progressing to active disease. The description highlights prevention approaches such as infection prevention and control measures in health facilities and congregate settings, systematic contact investigation, and preventive therapy for eligible higher-risk individuals.

13) What kinds of settings are referenced for TB prevention activities?

The opportunity references prevention in health facilities and congregate settings, alongside community-level approaches intended to reduce exposure and encourage earlier action.

14) Does the prevention objective include integration with other health services?

Yes. The description notes that prevention often includes integration with other health services where TB risk is elevated.

15) What does Objective 4 (strengthen local systems) cover?

Objective 4 focuses on strengthening local systems for planning, coordinating, monitoring, and assuring the quality of TB services. This includes strengthening coordination mechanisms, data systems, performance monitoring, supportive supervision, and quality improvement processes.

16) What does the emphasis on "local systems" suggest?

It suggests the activity is not only about delivering TB services, but also about building durable capacity within Zimbabwean institutions to manage TB programs effectively over time, with planning and oversight functions that are robust, evidence-driven, and accountable for results.

17) Is USAID expecting a single award or multiple awards?

USAID anticipates making one award.

18) What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is USD 29,000,000.

19) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is 72061324RFA00001.

20) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 98.001.

21) Is this considered a discretionary award?

Yes. The opportunity is listed as a discretionary award.

22) What was the application closing date listed in the opportunity record?

The original closing date for applications was 2024-07-31.

23) What is the record creation date shown for the opportunity?

The opportunity record indicates a creation date of 2024-06-28.

24) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others." The notice also references a specific definition of "local entities" contained in the attached Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), so applicants would need to consult the NOFO to confirm whether they qualify under USAID's local entity requirements and any additional conditions.

25) Does the notice define "local entities" directly?

No. The information provided indicates the definition of "local entities" is contained in the attached NOFO, meaning the eligibility details depend on that document.

26) What kind of implementer does USAID appear to be seeking?

The opportunity is framed as a single, large cooperative agreement intended to scale and improve the TB response in Zimbabwe across detection, treatment, prevention, and health system strengthening. The description suggests USAID is seeking an implementer (or consortium) able to work across community and facility settings, support national and subnational TB program functions, improve service quality and performance, and deliver measurable improvements in TB outcomes while reinforcing sustainable, locally anchored systems.

27) Does the opportunity focus only on service delivery?

No. While service improvements are central (case detection, management, and prevention), Objective 4 emphasizes reinforcing planning, coordination, monitoring, and quality assurance systems, indicating a strong health system strengthening and sustainability focus alongside service delivery.

28) What does USAID involvement look like under a cooperative agreement?

Based on the description provided, USAID expects to play an active role during implementation through ongoing collaboration, technical engagement, and performance oversight.