By Diana Okemwa, NNN-KBC
Nairobi : Kenya has received grants totaling eight billion shillings (about 124.7 million USD) from donors to help in implementing its HIV and AIDS strategic plan over the next four years.
Out of the amount, five billion shillings (about 77.94 million USD) were donated by the International Development Agency, an agency of the World bank Group which helps the poorest countries, while two billion shillings were a grant from Britain’s Department for International development (DFID).
Addressing the press in Nairobi Wednesday, the National AIDS Control Council Director, Professor Alloys Orago, said 481 million shillings had been set aside to implement the first phase of the project.
The council is now urging interested organizations and individuals to submit proposals to enable them to access the funds.
Professor Orago said the council had also formed a monitoring and evaluation system to supervise the vetting process.
Civil society bodies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, private organizations and research institutions are eligible to benefit from the funds.
He said tough measures are in place to ensure proper utilization of the funds. Organizations with a prior record of corrupt deals will be locked out.
The strategic plan aims to curb new infections, improve life of the infected and affected and mitigate the socio-economic impacts of HIV/AIDS while at the same time providing support services.
The funds will serve at three levels of intervention based at the constituencies, districts and at the national level.