Strengthening global health security through local partnerships in Uganda

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), number CDC-RFA-JG-26-0054, titled "Strengthening global health security through local partnerships in Uganda." With an application deadline of August 14, 2026, and an expected start date of September 30, 2026, this cooperative agreement plans to distribute a total of $15,000,000 in Year 1 funding across one to three awards over a five-year period of performance. The primary purpose of this initiative is to expand Uganda’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats, directly addressing gaps identified in the country's 2023 Joint External Evaluation (JEE). The program focuses on strengthening health emergency management, human resources, national laboratory systems, and surveillance using a One Health approach. To receive funding, applicants must apply for all five program components, which scale from baseline global health security priorities (Component 1) to rapid emergency responses for small-scale (Component 2), large-scale (Component 3), emerging infectious disease (Component 4), and humanitarian (Component 5) crises. While all components must include budgets and work plans, only Component 1 will initially be funded, with others remaining approved but unfunded until emergency needs arise. Eligible applicants include government entities, academic institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and foreign entities. To promote local capacity, the CDC offers a 15-point funding preference for organizations meeting the designated "local partner" criteria. Applications must be submitted in English, use U.S. dollars, and adhere to a 60-page project narrative limit.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), CDC-RFA-JG-26-0054, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aims to strengthen Uganda’s health security capacities through local partnerships. Aligning with the America First Global Health Strategy 2025 and the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), the cooperative agreement focuses on addressing critical gaps identified in Uganda’s 2023 Joint External Evaluation (JEE). Specifically, the initiative targets enhancements in health emergency management, human resources, national laboratory systems, surveillance, and border health security. The CDC anticipates total Year 1 funding of $15,000,000 to support one to three awards over a five-year period of performance. Funding is structured across five components: Component 1 serves as the core global health security priority ($5,000,000 ceiling), while Components 2 through 5 cover rapid emergency responses and humanitarian crises, utilized as approved but unfunded mechanisms until needed. To promote sustainability, a 15-point funding preference is available for certified local partners. Eligible applicants include government entities, academic institutions, nonprofits, and commercial organizations. Applications must be submitted in English via Grants.gov by August 14, 2026, with an expected project start date of September 30, 2026. Proposals are subject to a strict 60-page limit for the project narrative and will be evaluated based on background/approach (35 points), evaluation/performance measurement (40 points), and organizational capacity (25 points). Awardees must adhere to strict CDC scientific, administrative, and compliance priorities.