Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA)

Application Deadline:15th March 2017

The African Palliative Care Association (APCA) in collaboration with the Open Society Initiative For Eastern Africa (OSIEA) have developed a small grants programme to support Strategic Advocacy for Palliative Care and Access to Essential but Controlled Pain Medications initiatives in four East African countries of: Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.

Strategic advocacy for palliative care aims to influence decision makers to take steps to advance the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of palliative care. Access to essential controlled medicines is central to the provision of quality palliative care services. The May 2014 World Health Assembly Palliative Care Resolution (WHA 67-19) recognizes that access to palliative care and to essential medicines including opioid analgesics such as morphine for pain control, contributes to the realization of the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and well-being.[1]

This pilot small grants programme on strategic advocacy and access to controlled medicines will be implemented in 2017 and 2018, building onto strategies discussed at workshops during the 5th International African Palliative Care Conference in August 2016 in Uganda.

All work supported by this programme must directly contribute to the achievement of the goals and objectives of the following global, regional and national goals and objectives for improving access to palliative care and pain relief;

• The May 2014 World Health Assembly resolution on strengthening palliative care as a component of comprehensive care throughout the life course; http://www.oeci.eu/Attachments%5CA67_R19-en.pdf
• Universal Health Coverage (UHC); http://www.who.int/universal_health_coverage/un_resolution/en/
• UN Political Declaration on NCDs; http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/66/L.1
• The 2012 African Union (AU) common position on controlled substances and access to pain medications; http://www.carmma.org/sites/default/files/PDF-uploads/African%20Common%20Position%20on%20Controlled%20Substances%20and%20Access%20to%20Pain%20Mgt%20Drugs%20-%20English.pdf
• WHO Guidance for availability and accessibility of controlled medications; http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/quality_safety/guide_nocp_sanend/en/
• The strategic positioning of palliative care and pain relief within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda;
• National palliative care and pain relief policies, guidelines and strategies.

Funding Priorities

The programme aims to influence changes on health, medicines policies and laws to allow for improved access by patients who need palliative care and pain relief services. It is also expected to influence the allocation of local funding towards access to palliative care and controlled medicines. This programme also aims to bring more advocates on board to influence changes on this important public health issue, from other fields of health and human rights.

Specific priority areas for consideration include:

1. Review and/or change of laws, regulations and public policy to improve access to palliative care and access to controlled medicines;
2. Development of legal and human rights frameworks for palliative care;
3. Budget analysis, advocacy and allocation;
4. Political and public debates on palliative care and access to pain medicines;
5. Behavioural and attitudinal change including awareness creation among policy makers about palliative care and pain relief;
6. Improving supply chain mechanisms for controlled medicines, including the engagement of key players and advocates from other fields of health and human rights;
7. Media engagement;
8. Strategic communication (reframing palliative care and access to controlled medicines, changing the narrative).
9. Domestication of global and regional frameworks, strategies and tools aimed at increasing access to palliative care and pain relief.

Applications 

The deadline for applications will be 15th March 2017 and 15th September 2017 respectively.  Applications will be reviewed in April and October 2017. Only applications made by completing the small grants application form for strategic advocacy and access to controlled medicines which is available here will be considered. Should you require additional support or information while developing the proposals you can contact the Programmes Director at APCA by telephone +256 312 264978 or email at: [email protected] or [email protected]

Please attach all required documents to this application form. Incomplete applications risk not being considered.

All applicants must include the following documents with their application:

• A copy of the registration of your organisation confirming that it is a legal entity in the country of operation.
• Cover letter from the head of the organisation or relevant authorised person.
• Reference letter from a relevant local hospice and palliative care organisation, ministry of health or any other credible network organisation e.g. cancer society, hospital, academic institution.
• A copy of a valid work permit if the responsible person is not a national.
• Current audited accounts. In the absence of current audited accounts, please provide an explanation of why it is not possible to provide accounts and instead submit an annual statement of income and expenditure.
• Detailed project budget using a template provided as part of the application form. (The budget should be provided both in the local currency and USD currency, indicating the date of currency conversion and rate used)
• A copy of the organisation structure if available.  Alternatively, a summary list of staff positions in the organisation indicating number of people per position.
• Curriculum vitae (CVs) of the key institutional contact, the person responsible for project coordination and for the person responsible for finance management of the project.
• If applying for training related project, please also include the following:
• Completed training sheet for activities involving training using the template provided with the grant application form.
• If applying for the purchase of equipment, medicines or materials, please also include the following:
• A minimum of three quotes for proposed equipment purchases if applicable indicating the preferred quote and reasons for this.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the African Palliative Care Association: Small Grants Programme 2017