RFAs: Expanding Global Health Security through Local Partnerships in Indonesia (US)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is accepting applications to strengthen Indonesia’s public health system through strategic collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Health (MOH). The funding opportunity supports projects that enhance disease surveillance, laboratory systems, workforce development, emergency response, and health system strengthening to improve the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats.

CDC Global Health Security Funding Opportunity for Indonesia

Funding Summary

Funding Organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Program Focus: Global Health Security in Indonesia
Country: Indonesia
Estimated Total Funding Available: US$25,000,000
Award Ceiling: US$0 (Not specified in the funding announcement)
Award Floor: US$0 (Not specified in the funding announcement)
Funding Type: Grant

About the Program

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking proposals that support collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Health (MOH) to strengthen Indonesia’s public health system and advance global health security objectives.

The initiative supports implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) and aims to improve the country’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. Rather than creating new public health systems, funded projects are expected to strengthen and expand existing infrastructure, reinforce previous CDC-supported initiatives, and align with Indonesia’s national health security priorities.

The program also supports long-term institutional capacity building by promoting sustainable partnerships, strengthening technical expertise, and improving coordination among national and local stakeholders responsible for public health preparedness and response.

Program Objectives

The funding opportunity aims to:

Strengthen Indonesia’s public health preparedness and response systems.
Improve disease surveillance and reporting capabilities.
Enhance laboratory systems and diagnostic capacity.
Strengthen the public health workforce.
Improve emergency management and outbreak response.
Support health system strengthening and integrated service delivery.
Advance implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR).
Build sustainable partnerships between CDC, the Indonesian Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders.
Improve monitoring, evaluation, and program performance.

Priority Areas

Applications should focus on one or more of the following five priority areas:

Real-Time Surveillance and Reporting

Support stronger surveillance systems that enable rapid reporting and timely detection of public health threats.

Laboratory Systems

Strengthen laboratory infrastructure, testing capacity, quality management systems, and diagnostic capabilities.

Workforce Development

Develop and strengthen the public health workforce through training, technical assistance, leadership development, and capacity building.

Emergency Management and Response

Improve emergency preparedness, outbreak response coordination, and incident management systems.

Health System Strengthening and Services Delivery

Enhance integrated health services while strengthening national and local health systems to improve resilience against future public health emergencies.

Expected Project Activities

Projects may include activities such as:

Strengthening disease surveillance systems.
Improving real-time disease reporting.
Expanding laboratory diagnostic capacity.
Enhancing laboratory quality assurance.
Training epidemiologists and laboratory personnel.
Building emergency preparedness and response systems.
Strengthening health service delivery.
Supporting implementation of national health security strategies.
Developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
Improving coordination among public health institutions.

Project Requirements

Applicants should ensure that proposed projects:

Build upon activities implemented under CDC-RFA-GH20-2120.
Address recommendations from the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) 2023.
Align with Indonesian Ministry of Health strategic plans.
Support priorities identified in the National Action Plan for Health Security.
Strengthen existing public health infrastructure rather than establishing entirely new systems.
Include comprehensive monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
Demonstrate measurable outcomes and long-term sustainability.

Funding Information

The CDC has made an estimated US$25,000,000 available under this funding opportunity.

Funding details include:

Estimated Total Funding: US$25,000,000
Award Ceiling: US$0 (Not specified in the announcement)
Award Floor: US$0 (Not specified in the announcement)

Applicants should consult the official funding announcement for complete budget guidance and award conditions.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

County governments.
State governments.
City or township governments.
Special district governments.
Independent school districts.
Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Private institutions of higher education.
Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status.
Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status.
Small businesses.
For-profit organizations other than small businesses.
Public housing authorities.
Indian housing authorities.
Federally recognized Native American Tribal Governments.
Native American Tribal Organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).

Why This Program Matters

Strong public health systems are essential for protecting communities against emerging infectious diseases and future pandemics. Investments in surveillance, laboratories, workforce development, emergency response, and health system strengthening help countries identify disease outbreaks earlier, coordinate effective responses, and reduce the impact of health emergencies.

By supporting collaboration between the CDC and Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, this initiative contributes to national resilience while strengthening regional and global health security.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

Review the official funding opportunity announcement carefully.
Confirm organizational eligibility.
Develop a proposal addressing one or more of the five priority areas.
Ensure the project aligns with MOH strategic plans and national health security priorities.
Prepare a detailed technical proposal and budget.
Include a monitoring and evaluation framework with measurable indicators.
Submit the completed application according to CDC application requirements before the deadline.

Tips for Applicants

Align the project with Indonesia’s National Action Plan for Health Security.
Address recommendations from the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) 2023.
Demonstrate how activities strengthen existing public health systems.
Include measurable performance indicators.
Present a realistic implementation timeline.
Demonstrate strong technical and institutional capacity.
Highlight collaboration with national and local stakeholders.
Emphasize sustainability beyond the grant period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Proposing activities unrelated to the five priority areas.
Creating new systems instead of strengthening existing ones.
Weak monitoring and evaluation plans.
Insufficient alignment with MOH priorities.
Lack of sustainability planning.
Poor coordination with relevant stakeholders.
Incomplete or unclear project design.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the purpose of this funding opportunity?

The program supports projects that strengthen Indonesia’s public health systems and improve the country’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats.

How much funding is available?

The estimated total funding available is US$25,000,000.

Which country does this funding opportunity support?

The funding opportunity is specifically designed to support public health capacity building in Indonesia.

What are the five priority areas?

The priority areas are Real-Time Surveillance and Reporting, Laboratory Systems, Workforce Development, Emergency Management and Response, and Health System Strengthening and Services Delivery.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include government entities, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, small businesses, tribal governments, and other eligible organizations specified in the funding announcement.

Should projects establish new public health systems?

No. Projects should strengthen and expand existing public health infrastructure and build upon previous CDC-supported activities.

Why is monitoring and evaluation important?

Monitoring and evaluation help measure project performance, track outcomes, demonstrate impact, and ensure accountability throughout implementation.

Conclusion

The CDC Global Health Security Funding Opportunity for Indonesia provides significant support for strengthening Indonesia’s public health preparedness and response systems through strategic collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Health. With an estimated US$25 million in available funding, the initiative focuses on enhancing surveillance, laboratory systems, workforce development, emergency management, and health system strengthening, helping Indonesia build sustainable capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to current and future public health threats while advancing global health security objectives.