Selection of Associations and Allocation of Funds to Associations that will Implement Activities Defined in the Program for the Protection of the Population from HIV Infection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2025

Institution that advertises: Ministry of Health

Application deadline: 24/03/2025

Based on Article 16, paragraphs (2) and (3) of the Health Care Act (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia” Nos. 43/12, 145/12, 87/13, 164/13, 39/14, 43/14, 132/14, 188/14, 10/15, 61/15, 154/15, 192/15, 17/16, 37/16, 20/19, and “Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia” Nos. 101/19, 153/19, 180/19, 275/19, 77/21, 122/21, 178/21, 150/22, 236/22, 199/23, 236/23, 263/23, 30/24, 74/24 and 170/24), in relation to the Program for the Protection of the Population from HIV Infection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2025 (“Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia” No. 40/2025 dated 20.02.2025), the Internal procedure for the process of planning, preparation, implementation of the program for the protection of the population from HIV infection as well as the procedure for the disbursement of financial funds to the executors of the activities from the program for the protection of the population from HIV infection financed from the Budget of the Republic of North Macedonia No. 40/2025 dated 20.02.2025 and the Decision on conducting a public call for selection of associations and awarding funds to associations that will implement activities determined in the Program for the Protection of the Population from HIV Infection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2025 No. 40/2025 dated 20.02.2025, the Ministry of Health announces

PUBLIC CALL

for the selection of associations and awarding funds to associations that will implement activities determined in the Program for the Protection of the Population from HIV Infection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2025 (“Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia” No. 40/2025 dated 20.02.2025)

I. Subject of the public call:

Selection of associations and awarding funds to associations that will implement activities determined in the Program for the Protection of the Population from HIV Infection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2025 (“Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia” No. 40/2025 dated 20.02.2025)

II. Contracting authority:

Ministry of Health, located at “50 Divizija” St. No.14, 1000 Skopje, phone +389 2 3 11 25 00, website: www.zdravstvo.gov.mk

Contact person at the contracting authority – Aleksandra Ristovska Evtimova, phone +389 2 3 11 25 00, fax +389 2 3 11 30 14, e-mail aleksandra.evtimova@zdravstvo.gov.mk

III. Duration of the contract

Contracts concluded between the Ministry of Health and the selected associations are concluded for a fixed term, until the end of the fiscal year 2025.

IV. Costs financed through the Program for the Protection of the Population from HIV Infection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2025:

Human resources (fees/salaries for persons engaged in the implementation of program activities);

V. Conditions for participation in the public call

To participate in the public call procedure for the selection of associations and awarding funds to associations that will implement activities determined in the Program for the Protection of the Population from HIV Infection in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2025, interested associations must meet the following conditions for determination of their capacity and submit evidence, including:

Mandatory documentation for participation in the public call

Computer-filled unified form, signed by the association representative and certified with the association’s stamp (on the prescribed form which is an integral part of the public call);
Detailed financial plan (submitted as a separate document);
Current status from the Central Registry (not older than 6 months);
Copy of the association’s statute;
Work program or strategic framework of the association;
Copy of the last financial statement;
Evidence of implementation of at least three projects, or one multi-year project, with a total duration of no less than three years for providing stationary and/or field services for prevention and support related to HIV among key populations, independently or in partnership (copies of concluded contract(s) for project implementation and copies of project implementation reports);
Evidence of meeting relevant personnel conditions: declaration by the association regarding engaged personnel; professional CVs of persons who will be engaged in project implementation (on the prescribed form which is an integral part of the public call);
At least one opinion/reference from partners or donors for implementation of previous projects;
Written support from other organizations or institutions planned to participate in the project implementation (if the project is implemented in partnership with another organization/institution).

VI. Types of activities to be supported

Within this public call, program activities will be financially supported in the following fields of operation:

HIV prevention among key populations – MSM programs in Skopje, Strumica, Štip, Ohrid, Kumanovo, and Bitola
The program targets 2500 persons with a basic service package (condoms, lubricants, and educational material). Additionally, in cooperation with activities for field HIV testing and counseling for key populations, and diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and sexual and reproductive health services for key populations and youth, men who have sex with men (MSM) will be covered with an extended service package (HIV test, condom, lubricant, educational material), including field confidential testing for STIs via outreach workers in the mentioned cities. Activities should aim to increase coverage of this target population, including counseling center operations in Skopje with direct counseling, online counseling, HIV info line, psychological counseling, and voluntary stationary HIV and syphilis counseling and testing, targeting 200 MSM. Communication tools including innovative approaches for greater mobilization of target group members for prevention and HIV testing services should be applied. Funds allocated: 2,070,000.00 MKD.
HIV prevention among key populations – PWID programs in Skopje (3), Gostivar, Kumanovo, Ohrid, Struga, Bitola, Prilep, Kičevo, Veles, Kavadarci, Štip, Strumica, and Gevgelija
Programs include coverage of 2900 persons with basic service package (one needle and syringe set, condom, educational material) through established harm reduction programs for drug users (needle/syringe exchange, condom/lubricant distribution, stationary and field services by outreach, social and medical workers, psychosocial support, HIV education, motivation for addiction treatment). Funds allocated: 4,385,500.00 MKD.
HIV prevention among key populations – sex workers programs in Skopje (2), Gostivar, Ohrid, Bitola, Strumica, and Gevgelija
Coverage of 900 persons with basic service package (condoms, lubricants, educational material) through established stationary and field programs with outreach and social workers, peer education, etc. Funds allocated: 2,568,300.00 MKD.
Positive prevention and psychosocial support for people living with HIV and their partners, including MSM prevention
Services include community-based prevention (peer counseling, sociotherapy groups, positive prevention training, accompaniment and support in accessing health services and therapy, home/hospital assistance, educational materials), psychosocial support (counseling, travel cost coverage for therapy and medical control, provision of basic food and hygiene items, support for immobile/hospitalized patients, institutional networking), training and sensitization of health workers on HIV to reduce stigma, production of educational materials, awareness raising, normalization of HIV services, and mobilization of societal support. Services target at least 80 people living with HIV (minimum 30 new), 100 HIV testing and counseling clients, and 100 clients for pre-exposure prophylaxis counseling and support in partnership with Infectious Diseases Clinic. Funds allocated: 539,000.00 MKD.
Field and stationary HIV testing and counseling activities for key populations
Includes stationary and field counseling and testing, self-testing, provision of testing materials, monitoring and data collection for testing in association services for key populations nationally; condom, lubricant, and educational material distribution; mobilization activities; capacity building of HIV testing service providers. Coverage target: 1100 persons (600 MSM, 250 PWID, 250 sex workers) in Skopje and 13 other cities. Counseling and testing should be voluntary, confidential, and conducted by trained personnel. Funds allocated: 1,050,000.00 MKD.
Psychosocial support for people treated for drug addiction
Includes field work in gathering places and homes (risk reduction counseling, motivation for treatment or professional help, distribution of educational materials, condoms, vouchers for free HIV testing); social interventions (assistance with obtaining documents for health/social insurance); self-help groups; info line for drug-related, HIV, HCV, and STI problems; confidential counseling by psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychologists, social workers; creative workshops and psychosocial club; needle patrol (infectious waste collection, HIV/STI prevention, stigma reduction). Coverage: 250 persons. Funds allocated: 385,000.00 MKD.
Diagnosis and treatment of STIs and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for key populations and youth
Support for youth-friendly SRH counseling and services, treatment of STIs for key populations and youth, including diagnostic materials and contraceptives. Coverage: 400 persons. Funds allocated: 250,000.00 MKD.