Protecting and Improving Global Health Security by Engaging Local Partners: Strengthening and Sustaining Public Health Systems in Ghana

The funding opportunity titled Protecting and Improving Global Health Security by Engaging Local Partners Strengthening and Sustaining Public Health Systems in Ghana is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This opportunity is part of a broader federal initiative to strengthen global public health infrastructure and enhance international disease detection and response capabilities. The CDC has historically played a central role in advancing global health security through partnerships with national governments, and this program continues that effort with a targeted focus on Ghana. The initiative aligns with U.S. government priorities to mitigate transnational health threats and reinforce partner country capacity. The primary purpose of this cooperative agreement is to build and sustain a resilient public health system in Ghana that can effectively identify, prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. The program emphasizes strengthening laboratory systems, surveillance infrastructure, emergency response mechanisms, and workforce development. It also expands prior CDC-supported efforts by incorporating enhanced surveillance in border districts and advancing sequencing and bioinformatics capabilities. These improvements are intended to reduce the risk of epidemics and ensure rapid, coordinated responses to emerging health threats. Funding under this opportunity is expected to support a wide range of public health system strengthening activities. Allowable uses include investments in laboratory capacity, disease surveillance systems, workforce training, emergency preparedness, and data systems such as bioinformatics platforms. The program encourages collaboration with local, multi-sectoral, and multilateral partners to ensure sustainability and local ownership. While specific budget restrictions are not detailed in the forecast, the cooperative agreement structure implies substantial federal involvement and oversight in program implementation. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive, encompassing state and local governments, tribal entities, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit entities including small businesses. This wide eligibility scope reflects the program’s emphasis on leveraging diverse expertise and institutional capacity to achieve its objectives. Applicants are expected to demonstrate the ability to operate within Ghana and collaborate effectively with local stakeholders and public health authorities. The application process requires electronic submission through the appropriate federal grants platform by the stated deadline. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast, typical CDC cooperative agreements require technical proposals, budgets, and organizational capacity documentation. Applications must be submitted by the estimated due date of August 15, 2026, no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time. There is no indication of a pre-application requirement such as a letter of intent. The timeline for this opportunity includes an estimated posting date of June 30, 2026, followed by an application deadline in mid-August 2026. Awards are expected to be announced by August 31, 2026, with project activities beginning on September 30, 2026. The total estimated program funding is 125 million dollars, distributed across approximately four awards. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for applicants. Program outcomes are focused on improving prevention of avoidable epidemics, enhancing early detection of disease threats, and ensuring rapid and effective response to public health emergencies. The CDC will evaluate applications based on alignment with these objectives, organizational capacity, and proposed impact. For additional information, applicants may contact the designated program officer via email or phone as provided in the opportunity listing.