DLIIC second window winners are set to fight HIV among girls and women in Tanzania

DLIIC second window winners are set to fight HIV among girls and women in Tanzania

DLIIC second window winners are set to fight HIV among girls and women in Tanzania

DLIIC awarded grants to nine Tanzanian innovators and one Tanzanian not-for-profit social enterprise, Ubongo Kids. The grants support data-focused solutions that aim to reduce the risks of contracting HIV/AIDS among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW). These entrepreneurs will receive awards ranging from 10,000 to 25,000 USD (individuals) and 100,000 USD (organization) as well as technical and mentoring support to implement a variety of community-based solutions.

The announcement was made on 11 October 2017, whereby DLIIC celebrated these innovators as part of festivities for the International Day of the Girl Child, building on the United Nations 2017 theme of “The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030.”

DLIIC is funded by the U.S. Government’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) under the Data Collaborative for Local Impact (DCLI) partnership and is overseen by the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC). DLIIC launched its first challenge window in October 2016 and aimed to increase the use of data for improved health outcomes, and to support the health priorities of the Tanzanian Government. This second challenge window also focused on health priorities of the Tanzanian Government, and specifically supported strategic PEPFAR programming addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW), a partnership referred to as DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS Free, Mentored, and Safe).

The DREAMS Partnership supports vulnerable adolescent girls and young women aged 10-24, with a special focus on 15 to 24-year-olds. This population is 2.5 times more likely to contract HIV/AIDs than their male counterparts. The DREAMS Partnership aims to reduce AGYW’s vulnerability by decreasing new HIV infections among 15-24-year-olds by 40% through a core package of evidence-based interventions targeted at four overlapping populations: young women, their care givers, their sexual partners, and their community members. These interventions have been proven to mitigate HIV risk behaviors, HIV transmission, and gender based violence (GBV).

The second challenge window invited local developers to generate new innovations, technologies, and processes that use data to address issues facing AGYW, and contribute to reducing HIV infection. Winning proposals included solutions addressing the following thematic areas:

  • Increasing male partner participation in creating a safe and protective environment for AGYW;
  • Decreasing early school dropouts that limit opportunities for AGYW;
  • Expanding economic empowerment and strategies to increase economic independence for AGYW; and
  • Augmenting AGYW leadership and decision-making in the fight against HIV.

“The Data for Local Impact Innovation Challenge aims to engage, support, and connect Tanzanian innovators, developers, solution providers and beneficiaries to each other as well as to opportunities to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Agapiti Manday, DLIIC’s Program Manager.

The winners have already undergone training and each one has been assigned a mentor to guide them through the implementation of their projects, which will take 3-6 months. They will be part of an entrepreneurial program that will enhance their practical project management skills, business acumen, and data science capabilities.

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