The CIPHER Grant Programme directly supports the development of early-stage investigators to address research gaps in paediatric and adolescent HIV in resource-limited settings. This is a unique “stepping up” opportunity, designed to give investigators the experience they need to compete for larger funding. The grants are resulting in personal and career development, capacity building on the ground, and research that informs policies and programmes.
In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has represented an unprecedented challenge for health systems: in the first quarter, 94% of countries reported disruptions of essential health services. Access to HIV prevention was reduced and there were decreases in testing and treatment initiation. The resilience and innovations of the HIV response have also been demonstrated. In particular, community-led services reached affected communities with essential services in the most challenging settings. There is now an opportunity to adapt and enhance the approaches from the COVID-19 response to paediatric and adolescent HIV. This recognizes the need to develop innovative strategies reflecting on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. CIPHER aims to support research projects that could inform HIV policies and programmes, thus accelerating the HIV response in grantees’ countries.
Grant Size: USD 150,000
Deadline: January 27, 2021