TIFA Zimbabwe Call for Concept Papers: Strengthening NTP capacity in DR-TB (Drug Resistant TB) management in Zimbabwe through implementation of DR-TB surveillance system

The Tuberculosis Implementation Framework Agreement (TIFA), implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), is announcing a call for concept papers (CCP) for Health Commitment Grant (HCG) from eligible and qualified organizations in Zimbabwe. Organizations selected through this CCP will be invited to participate in a co-design process for a Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) case-based surveillance system (DR-TB Tracker) grant. The grant will be implemented in all DR-TB sites across four provinces (Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North, Harare and Bulawayo), in coordination with the Zimbabwe National TB Program (NTP) under the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC). The grant amount will not exceed USD 250,000 and the grant period will not exceed 10 months, prioritizing immediate start-up. 

Applications are to be submitted via Google Form. The link can be found on page 9 in Part D of the Call for Concept Papers.

Activities will include:

• Rollout of the DR-TB Tracker: Provide comprehensive support to the NTP to deploy a case-based surveillance web platform, the DR-TB Tracker, across all DR-TB sites in four provinces in the country. The objective is to institutionalize real-time tracking to improve patient retention, clinical follow-up, and the overall quality of the DR-TB care continuum.

• Infrastructure Optimization and Sustainability: Ensure project cost-efficiency and long-term viability by leveraging existing site resources. The applicant must maximize the utility of currently deployed hardware (computers), established internet connectivity, and existing power systems at DR-TB sites, thereby minimizing award costs and fostering MoHCC ownership.

• Data Migration and Backlog Regularization: Facilitate the retrospective entry of clinical data for all active patients and those with pending outcomes, covering the period from January 2023 to the present. This will provide the necessary baseline for accurate cohort analysis and national reporting.