Comic Relief: HIV, Diversity and Dignity

Overview

Comic Relief funding will not support direct service provision, but be used to strengthen advocacy and to develop referral pathways and accountability efforts to ensure access to comprehensive services for Key Populations.

Comic Relief’s resources will focus on addressing the needs of Key Populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. We will accept applications from any of the following nine countries: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia.

Funding available

There is no minimum grant size. The maximum grant available is £250,000 and a grant length of three to five years. The funding could be used to start new activities according to identified needs of Key Populations, or to strengthen existing work. Applicants can either request 100% funding from Comic Relief, or part funding for proposed activities. Please refer to Comic Relief’s funding policies, principles and FAQs for more details.

Eligibility

Applicants must be based in the UK and working with partners in Sub-Saharan Africa who are either capacity building organisations that support community groups of Key Populations, or working directly with organisations led by Key Populations, or their networks. Building capacity of these organisations is a key outcome of this initiative. The UK and local partners must have a demonstrated record of working with Key Populations of at least five years.

Programmatic outcomes

Comic Relief will invest in programmes that include some combination of the following elements, according to the main needs of the programme beneficiaries and the ability of the programme to deliver different types of activities:

• An increase in access to appropriate user-friendly and high-quality services leading to improved health for Key Populations.
• Inclusion of Key Populations in the community and society as a result of reduced stigma and discrimination and/or more beneficiaries having relevant coping and life skills, leading to Key Populations participating in life within their families, communities and countries.
• Good quality support to improve and secure livelihoods for Key Populations, through savings and/or developing income sources, particularly for beneficiary groups that are relatively poor or who experience large fluctuations in their income.
• New and stronger partnerships between Key Population organisations and potential allies in society, such as existing providers of health and other services, community leaders, law enforcement, and other relevant sources of support.
• Empowerment of Key Populations leading to their voices being heard and strengthening legislation and policies for an improved policy environment, and to create lasting change.
• Systems enabling key populations to report on quality and accessibility of services are established.
• Strengthened technical capacity of organisations led by Key Populations and their networks leading to high quality community-based activities for Key Populations and linkages with friendly services and other relevant stakeholders.

Organisational development outcomes

Comic Relief will invest in programmes that:

• Strengthen leadership and governance of organisations led by Key Populations (i.e. where the majority of Board members are from Key Populations)
• Strengthen management systems and processes of organisations led by Key Populations leading to stable and secure organisations, diversified funding and lasting change.
• Strengthen Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning resulting in documentation and sharing of lessons and best practice, and scaling up of activities that reach more Key Populations with high quality user-friendly services.

Guiding principles

Comic Relief will fund rights-based activities that:

• Are led by key populations or actively involve key populations in governance and / or programme implementation
• Are innovative and creative and demonstrate measurable results and outputs
• Reflect a strong focus on community participation
• Build on and leverage existing impact
• Fill a clear and demonstrable gap/niche in the country HIV response
• Value learning and sharing of lessons
• Leverage funding and support from government and other local partners

For more details, FAQs and further information on Comic Relief’s grants policies and principles see the website

Comic Relief have limited resources relative to the number of proposals they receive and, therefore, are not usually able to offer this. However, based on their experience of working with grant applicants, they have provided extensive guidance notes and answers to Frequently Asked Questions that they advise you to read before submitting your proposal. If you have a particular issue that needs resolving before submitting, please email grantsinfo@comicrelief.com and they will do their best to help you.