Civil Society Funding Opportunity to Strengthen Immunization Efforts (Mozambique)

Gavi is inviting eligible civil society organizations (CSOs) in Mozambique to apply for grants that strengthen community engagement and increase routine immunization coverage. With USD 1.6 million available, the program supports initiatives that identify and refer zero-dose and under-immunized children, expand HPV and COVID-19 vaccine coverage, and improve access to vaccination services in underserved communities.

About the Gavi Civil Society Organization Grants

Gavi’s Civil Society Organization (CSO) Grants aim to strengthen routine immunization systems in Mozambique by supporting community-based organizations that can improve vaccine access and demand.

The program complements the country’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) by empowering civil society organizations to increase community participation, improve vaccine awareness, strengthen social mobilization, and help ensure that every child has access to life-saving vaccines.

The funding particularly targets hard-to-reach populations, underserved communities, and children who have never received routine vaccines.

Program Objectives

The grants aim to:

• Increase routine immunization coverage across Mozambique.
• Reduce the number of zero-dose and under-immunized children.
• Support HPV vaccine rollout and improve vaccination coverage.
• Integrate COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization services.
• Strengthen community engagement and social mobilization.
• Improve demand for vaccination services.
• Reduce inequalities in access to immunization.
• Strengthen collaboration between communities and health authorities.

Priority Focus Areas

Projects should address one or more of the following priorities:

• Routine immunization.
• Zero-dose children identification and referral.
• Under-immunized children.
• HPV vaccine rollout.
• COVID-19 vaccine integration.
• Community engagement.
• Social mobilization.
• Vaccine demand generation.
• Health communication.
• Outreach to remote communities.
• Immunization equity.
• Child health.
• Strengthening the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).

Types of Activities Supported

Funding may support activities such as:

• Identifying zero-dose children.
• Referring under-immunized children to health facilities.
• Community awareness and vaccination campaigns.
• Door-to-door community mobilization.
• Outreach in remote and underserved communities.
• Community engagement initiatives.
• Demand generation for routine immunization.
• HPV vaccination awareness campaigns.
• COVID-19 vaccination promotion integrated with routine immunization.
• Collaboration with local health authorities.
• Communication and behavior change initiatives.

Grant Types

Two types of grants are available:

Accelerator Grants

Accelerator Grants are designed for:

• National or sub-national civil society organizations.
• Organizations new to immunization programming.
• Organizations with limited experience managing Gavi funding.
• CSOs seeking to build capacity in vaccine delivery and community engagement.

Impact Grants

Impact Grants are intended for:

• National-level civil society organizations.
• Global civil society organizations operating in Mozambique.
• Organizations working in fragile, humanitarian, or conflict-affected settings.
• Larger-scale immunization and community engagement projects.

Funding Information

• Total funding available: USD 1.6 million.
• Organizations may submit multiple applications.
• Only one grant can be awarded to each organization.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• National non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
• Community-based organizations (CBOs).
• Faith-based organizations.
• Religious organizations.
• Academic institutions.
• Organizations working in humanitarian or emergency settings.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be a national non-profit civil society organization.
• Be based in Mozambique.
• Operate within the implementation province or a neighboring province.
• Be registered with the Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs.
• Be a member of a national or provincial civil society network.
• Have a bank account capable of receiving USD payments.
• Demonstrate sufficient financial management capacity.

Organizational Experience Requirements

Applicant organizations should have:

• At least three years of experience implementing child health or immunization projects.
• Experience in community mobilization.
• Experience working with community-based organizations.
• Experience implementing community engagement projects within the past five years.
• Experience collaborating with the Ministry of Health and local health authorities.
• Experience working in humanitarian or conflict settings, particularly in Cabo Delgado, where applicable.

Financial Requirements

Lead applicant organizations must demonstrate that:

• Their average annual expenditure during the previous three years exceeds 50% of the average annual grant value requested.
• They possess adequate financial management systems.
• They can manage donor-funded projects responsibly.

Why This Funding Matters

This initiative helps:

• Reach children who have never received vaccines.
• Improve vaccination equity.
• Strengthen routine immunization systems.
• Increase HPV and COVID-19 vaccine uptake.
• Improve child health outcomes.
• Strengthen partnerships between communities and health systems.
• Reduce preventable childhood diseases.

How to Apply

Interested organizations should follow these steps:

1. Review the eligibility requirements carefully.
2. Select the appropriate grant type (Accelerator or Impact).
3. Identify the province and districts where activities will be implemented.
4. Develop a strategy for reaching zero-dose and underserved children.
5. Prepare organizational, financial, and technical documentation.
6. Demonstrate experience in immunization and community engagement.
7. Complete and submit the application before the official deadline.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants should:

• Present a clear strategy for reaching hard-to-reach communities.
• Demonstrate strong collaboration with health authorities.
• Include measurable vaccination targets.
• Show previous success in community mobilization.
• Explain how activities will reduce immunization inequalities.
• Provide a realistic implementation plan and budget.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid:

• Submitting incomplete applications.
• Failing to demonstrate financial capacity.
• Providing weak plans for reaching zero-dose children.
• Omitting evidence of previous community health experience.
• Applying without the required organizational registration.
• Failing to explain collaboration with local health authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for the Gavi CSO Grants?

Eligible applicants include national NGOs, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, academic institutions, and other non-profit civil society organizations based in Mozambique.

How much funding is available?

A total of USD 1.6 million is available for grants in Mozambique.

Can an organization submit more than one application?

Yes. Organizations may submit multiple applications, but only one grant can be awarded to each organization.

What are zero-dose children?

Zero-dose children are those who have not received any routine childhood vaccinations, making them particularly vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases.

What activities are eligible for funding?

Eligible activities include community mobilization, identification and referral of zero-dose children, routine immunization promotion, HPV vaccine rollout, COVID-19 vaccine integration, outreach to underserved communities, and vaccination awareness campaigns.

What experience is required?

Organizations should have at least three years of experience in child health, immunization, community mobilization, or humanitarian programming, along with experience working with local health authorities and community organizations.

What financial requirements must applicants meet?

Applicants must demonstrate adequate financial capacity, including an average annual expenditure over the previous three years that exceeds 50% of the average annual grant value requested, and maintain a bank account capable of receiving USD payments.

Conclusion

The Gavi Civil Society Organization Grants in Mozambique provide a significant opportunity for national non-profit organizations to strengthen routine immunization systems and expand access to life-saving vaccines. By supporting community engagement, social mobilization, HPV and COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and the identification of zero-dose children, the program contributes to healthier communities and more equitable immunization coverage across Mozambique.