Yangon, Myanmar —MPG has launched a Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) to strengthen community-led partnerships that will contribute to a more sustainable, locally driven HIV response across Myanmar. The initiative comes at a critical moment following the completion of the Myanmar National Strategic Plan for HIV (NSP V) and MPG’s Strategic Plan (2026–2030), both of which emphasize the importance of community engagement, system integration, and long-term resilience in achieving national HIV targets.

The EOI represents a structured step toward translating these strategic frameworks into implementation mechanisms that are grounded in community leadership and aligned with national priorities. It also reflects a broader shift in the HIV response toward approaches that prioritize sustainability, accountability, and equitable access to services.

Strengthening a Community-Centered HIV Response

Myanmar’s HIV response continues to evolve in response to changing needs and global priorities. Increasingly, there is recognition that effective and sustained outcomes depend on strong community systems that are capable of reaching key populations, supporting retention in care, and contributing to monitoring and accountability processes.

Within this context, MPG’s EOI initiative is designed to identify and engage community-led organizations and community-based organizations that are actively involved in HIV prevention, treatment support, psychosocial care, and broader community systems strengthening.

The initiative aims to expand the reach and quality of community-led services while strengthening linkages between community structures and the formal health system. In doing so, it supports a more integrated approach to service delivery, where community actors play a central role in ensuring that services are accessible, responsive, and inclusive of underserved populations.

As noted by the Executive Director of MPG,
“Community-led organizations remain fundamental to the HIV response. Strengthening their role within national systems is essential to improving outcomes and ensuring that services are both accessible and sustained over time.”

From Strategic Planning to Operational Platforms

The completion of NSP V and MPG’s Strategic Plan provides a clear direction for the HIV response in Myanmar. The current phase focuses on operationalizing these strategies through structured platforms that can support coordinated implementation at scale.

The EOI serves as one such platform. It provides a transparent and systematic mechanism for engaging partners, assessing institutional capacity, and building a pipeline of organizations that can contribute to future programming and investment.

This transition—from planning to implementation—reflects a broader need to align strategy, financing, and delivery systems. It also reinforces the importance of building institutional capacity at community level, ensuring that organizations are equipped to meet programmatic requirements, uphold accountability standards, and manage resources effectively.

In this regard, the initiative supports not only service expansion, but also the development of stronger governance, financial management, and program delivery systems among participating organizations.

An Inclusive Platform for Community and Development Partners

The EOI initiative is intentionally designed to be inclusive, creating opportunities for both emerging and established community organizations to participate in the national HIV response. It recognizes the diverse capacities and experiences of community actors, and seeks to support a pathway for their continued development and engagement.

At the same time, the initiative extends an invitation to development partners, donors, and technical agencies to engage with this platform as a mechanism for delivering coordinated and sustainable impact. By aligning with national priorities and structured partnership systems, the EOI creates an enabling environment in which external investments can contribute effectively to both immediate results and long-term system strengthening.

The Chairperson of MPG emphasized this approach:

“Strengthening the HIV response requires shared commitment. Community organizations, government actors, and development partners all have complementary roles. This initiative is intended to bring these elements together in a coherent and sustainable way.”

Advancing Sustainability and Local Ownership

A central objective of the initiative is to support the transition toward a more sustainable and locally led HIV response. This reflects both national priorities and global shifts toward greater country ownership and reduced dependency on external funding.

Through its partnership approach, MPG is working to lay the foundation for longer-term solutions, including the gradual development of social contracting mechanisms, increased domestic resource mobilization, and the diversification of financing sources.

These efforts are complemented by a focus on strengthening institutional systems at community level, including governance structures, financial accountability, and program management capacity. Together, these elements are intended to position community-led organizations as integral and sustainable actors within the national health system.

As highlighted by the Executive Director,
“The long-term objective is to ensure that community systems are not only effective in delivering services today, but are capable of sustaining those services in the future. This requires investment in both people and systems.”

Contributing to NSP V Targets and the 2030 HIV Goals

The continued strengthening of community-led systems is expected to contribute to improved service coverage, increased retention in care, and enhanced responsiveness to the needs of key and underserved populations.

By aligning partnership mechanisms, community engagement, and program implementation with NSP V, the initiative supports Myanmar’s progress toward national HIV targets and the global commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Importantly, this approach recognizes that achieving these goals requires not only service expansion, but also sustained investment in systems that ensure quality, equity, and accountability over time.

Looking Ahead

The launch of the EOI marks an important milestone in the ongoing evolution of Myanmar’s HIV response. It reflects a transition toward more structured, coordinated, and sustainable approaches that place communities at the center of both implementation and decision-making.

As Myanmar moves forward under NSP V and MPG’s Strategic Plan, continued collaboration between community organizations, government institutions, and development partners will be critical to ensuring that progress is accelerated and sustained.

Targeted and coordinated investment in community-led platforms such as this has the potential to strengthen both immediate program delivery and long-term system resilience, contributing to a response that is not only effective, but sustainable and locally owned.

Call for Expression of Interest

Community-led organizations and community-based organizations across Myanmar are invited to submit their expressions of interest to participate in this initiative.

Submission Email: eoi@myanmarpositivegroup.org
Submission Requirements: Organizational profile, proof of registration or active operations, relevant experience, geographic focus, and contact details.

About MPG

Myanmar Positive Group-MPG is a community-led network of people living with HIV and key populations, working nationwide to strengthen HIV prevention, treatment, care, and community systems through partnerships and people-centered approaches.