Q: Who can submit an application during this initial stage (to be submitted by 30 June)?
A: Any NGO working on HIV/AIDS in China can submit an application, including registered and un-registered NGOs, academic institutions, and mass organizations. Government bodies can apply as part of an NGO-led application.

Q: Why is the timeline so short for applications?
A: The time frame is largely because the time between the original call for proposals from the Global Fund and the final deadline was shorter during Round 6 than during earlier rounds. In addition, the process of collecting individual application and then using them to compile an overall proposal is inherently time-consuming, and each stage of the process is shortened.

Q: How can I talk to the "support team", and what do they support anyway?
A: To contact the support team, send an email to one of the team members. The names and contact information of all support team members are available at:
http://www.china-aids.org/gf6/teams-en
(中文名单请看 http://www.china-aids.org/gf6/teams-cn)

Support team members will be available to provide basic information to groups as they write their applications, to clarify the overall application and editing process, and to try to help identify sources for answers to more complex questions. The support team can not provide technical assistance or extensive help to groups during the application writing, design and planning process.

Q: Is there a monetary limit on project submissions?
A: No, there is no predetermined monetary limit on any single application, but proposed budgets must relate to the proposed activities and match the track record and implementation capacity (human resources) of groups. Larger applications (those exceeding US$100,000 per year) should show significant participation by smaller, community-based organizations.
Previous Global Fund AIDS proposals have received total funding of $98 million, $64 million, and $28 million. While it is impossible to predict the total budget, given China’s middle-income status, past funding amounts, and the overall funding limitations of the Global Fund, it is likely that the total amount for this round will be less than previous rounds.

Q: Is there a geographic limit to the application?
A: No, projects can be in any part of China as long as they fit the focus of this proposal

Q: What is meant by "filling gaps" and "scaling up" as the focus of this application?
A:
"Filling gaps" means meeting needs that are not currently being met.
*There may be gaps in populations covered by existing HIV/AIDS programs. For example, there may not be enough services available for men who have sex with men (MSM) or ethnic minority populations.
*There may be gaps in geographical areas covered by existing HIV/AIDS programs. For example, rural areas may have "gaps" in program coverage in difficult to reach areas, or urban areas may have “gaps” in program coverage in certain districts or neighborhoods.
*There may be gaps in strategies used in existing HIV/AIDS programmes. For example, there are many effective HIV prevention strategies to meet the needs of drug users, but not all of them are always used. Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) may be available in some communities, but other elements of a comprehensive strategy may be missing – like peer outreach, needle and syringe exchange services, condom promotion services, STI services, and/or antiretroviral therapy.

"Scaling up" means increasing the coverage of HIV/AIDS programs by providing effective services to more people. "Scaling up" is essential in order to see an impact on the HIV epidemic at a population level (such as county level, province level, country level, or global level).

The basis for this direction is the guidance provided by the Global Fund in Geneva. Note that applications can aim to fill gaps or scale up existing projects within the national action plan, Global Fund Rounds 3, 4, or 5, or other ongoing projects.

Q: We want to apply as an individual NGO to do our own project. Is this alright?
A: All applications will be considered, but groups are strongly encouraged to work together to create larger, joint applications. In the end, the China CCM will submit only one application, and while it may have many components it must be a coherent and unified proposal. If 25 individual NGOs all send in high-quality applications, it may not be possible for the writing team to combine them into a solid proposal in 2 weeks. Therefore, different groups should consider whether their projects can be combined into a larger application.

Q: What happens if our proposal is "approved"?
A: If the review team decides that your proposal meets the needs of the overall project, it will be "approved" and sent to the writing team. This does not necessarily mean your group gets money to implement the proposed activities, as the writing team will draft a complete proposal (based on all the applications submitted), and the Principal Recipient and Sub Recipients will be determined by the CCM before the proposal is submitted. However, NGOs whose applications are incorporated into the final proposal and who have the capacity to implement should expect to be included in the implementation plan of the proposal.

Q: What should we do, just wait?
A: You will receive a notification from the review team of whether your application will be incorporated into the overall proposal. If it is, the writing team will then be in touch with you with questions, suggestions, and other issues. During the process of writing the combined proposal, the writing team may encourage you to adjust or revise your proposal in a number of ways, including:
1. Cooperate with other groups that have proposed similar activities
2. Adjust the scope of your proposed activities
3. Show links with ongoing global fund or other projects.

Q: Who will "combine" the submissions, and how will NGO groupings be formed?
A: The writing team will be responsible for drafting a single, coherent national proposal. It will also be responsible for facilitating improved coordination and cooperation between different groups working on the same topic or in the same area.

Q: What about government involvement? Is this pure NGO, or can we submit a joint NGO-Government proposal?
A: Though the focus of this application is NGO-run activities, proposals that include both government and non-government bodies are also encouraged. NGO-led applications can also include government-led activities and still be included in the final proposal

Q: I’m still confused about the overall drafting process. How does it work?
A: Please see the following diagram for an explanation of the process: download [english/中文]