Systems to End the Malaria Burden Through Meaningful Engagement - II (SEMBE II)

Background
This program description outlines the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s expectations for the Systems to End the Malaria Burden through Meaningful Engagement - II - (SEMBE1 II) activity in Cameroon. SEMBE II seeks to strengthen the capacity of the Cameroonian government and local stakeholders to positively respond to malaria prevention, control, and elimination priorities. SEMBE II will implement interventions focused on priorities outlined in Cameroon’s current National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Malaria Control for the period covering 2019 through 2023; and may adjust focus areas to align with future NSPs.
Cameroon’s current NSP 2019-2023 has identified the following priorities: Reduce malaria morbidity and mortality by 60 percent from 2015 levels by 2023, reduce malaria incidence from 2015 levels by 60 percent by 2023, reduce malaria transmission to a very low level (pre-elimination threshold) in some health districts in the Sahelian zone of the country by 2023. While USAID will mobilize funds primarily through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) to finance SEMBE II, this activity also allows for USAID to invoke program modifiers to respond to significant change in USAID funding streams, malaria epidemiology, or Cameroon’s external donor landscape.

Grant Details
The SEMBE II activity will focus service delivery and health systems strengthening activities in the North Region of Cameroon while providing technical assistance and support to the NMCP and other key stakeholders at the central and regional levels. Depending on funds availability, epidemiologic data, and changes in donor landscape and/or USAID funding streams, SEMBE II activities may be expanded into select areas of Adamawa and other regions.
Activities envisioned in these regions would include a similar set of malaria service delivery interventions, and potentially leveraging malaria response as a springboard to address other epidemic febrile illnesses, essential components of maternal and child health activities, and other identified health areas.

Eligibility Requirements
The SEMBE II activity will offer general services to people living in target region (s) including host population, refugees, and internally displaced persons. In addition, SEMBE II will prioritize service packages for populations most vulnerable to malaria – children under five and pregnant women with specific packages – while working to expand health care to the most hard-to-reach populations.

Grant Value
The total value of the grant is not specified.

Place of Performance
The SEMBE II activity will focus service delivery and health systems strengthening activities in the North Region of Cameroon while providing technical assistance and support to the NMCP and other key stakeholders at the central and regional levels.