Apply Now: Local Partnerships for Global Health Security (Uganda)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a funding opportunity to strengthen Uganda’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats through improved health security systems, workforce development, surveillance, and emergency response capacity. The programme provides approximately US$5 million in funding support for projects aligned with Uganda’s National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS II) and global health security priorities.

Overview of the CDC Uganda Health Security Funding Opportunity

The CDC funding opportunity aims to improve Uganda’s public health preparedness by supporting projects that strengthen national systems for preventing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks and other health emergencies.

The programme focuses on building sustainable health security capacity through:

Stronger disease surveillance systems.
Improved laboratory networks.
Emergency response systems.
Public health workforce development.
National and border health preparedness.
One Health approaches.
Local partnerships.

The initiative supports Uganda’s efforts to improve readiness against current and future public health threats.

Funding Amount

The estimated total programme funding available is:

US$5 million

Funding will be provided through a cooperative agreement model.

Applicants must submit:

Separate work plans for each programme component.
Individual budgets for each activity area.
Detailed implementation strategies.

Initial funding will prioritise core global health security activities. Additional programme areas may receive support as resources become available.

Purpose of the Grant

The funding aims to address gaps identified through Uganda’s:

2023 Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of Global Health Security Capacities

The programme supports improvements in:

Disease prevention.
Early detection.
Emergency response.
Health system resilience.
Public health coordination.

It contributes to Uganda’s ability to manage:

Infectious disease outbreaks.
Emerging health threats.
Humanitarian emergencies.
Public health crises.

Key Focus Areas

Health Emergency Management

Projects will strengthen Uganda’s ability to:

Prepare for health emergencies.
Coordinate emergency responses.
Improve crisis management systems.
Support rapid outbreak response operations.

Human Resources for Health Security

The programme supports:

Training of public health workers.
Development of emergency response teams.
Strengthening technical skills.
Expanding workforce capacity.

National Laboratory Systems

Funding supports improvements in:

Laboratory capacity.
Diagnostic systems.
Testing capabilities.
Laboratory networks.
Disease confirmation processes.

Strong laboratory systems help identify and control outbreaks quickly.

Disease Surveillance Systems

Projects will strengthen:

Disease monitoring.
Early warning systems.
Data collection.
Public health reporting.
Outbreak detection.

The programme supports Uganda’s:

National Integrated Surveillance System (NISS)

to improve national disease intelligence and response.

National Border Health Programmes

Activities may focus on:

Border disease surveillance.
Emergency preparedness at entry points.
Cross-border health coordination.
Rapid identification of imported diseases.

Workforce Development

The initiative supports building a skilled health security workforce through:

Training programmes.
Technical assistance.
Capacity-building activities.
Public health leadership development.

One Health Approach

The programme promotes collaboration between:

Human health sectors.
Animal health sectors.
Environmental sectors.

The One Health approach helps address diseases that emerge from interactions between humans, animals, and ecosystems.

Priority Public Health Activities

Supported projects may address:

Infectious disease outbreak response.
Emerging infectious disease threats.
Humanitarian emergency response.
Health emergency preparedness.
Public health communication.
Surveillance improvements.

Alignment with Uganda’s National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS II)

The funding supports Uganda’s NAPHS II priorities, including:

Strengthening national preparedness.
Improving health security systems.
Enhancing outbreak response.
Building sustainable emergency management capacity.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

Government agencies.
Higher education institutions.
Nonprofit organisations.
Private institutions.
For-profit organisations.
Small businesses.
Tribal organisations.
Foreign entities.

Applicants must ensure that:

Activities are implemented in Uganda.
Proposed projects align with health security objectives.
Work plans and budgets meet CDC requirements.

Why It Matters

Strong health security systems help countries:

Detect outbreaks earlier.
Respond faster to emergencies.
Reduce disease transmission.
Protect communities.
Improve national preparedness.

Investments in surveillance, laboratories, emergency systems, and trained health workers are essential for managing future health threats.

How the Programme Works

Step 1: Identify Priority Activities

Applicants should develop projects addressing areas such as:

Surveillance.
Laboratory systems.
Emergency management.
Workforce development.
One Health activities.

Step 2: Develop Work Plans

Applicants must prepare detailed plans describing:

Project objectives.
Activities.
Expected outcomes.
Implementation timelines.
Responsible partners.

Step 3: Prepare Budgets

Each programme component requires:

Separate budget information.
Cost estimates.
Resource allocation details.

Step 4: Submit Application

Applicants should provide:

Organisation details.
Technical proposal.
Work plans.
Budget documents.
Implementation approach.
Partnership information.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Proposing activities unrelated to Uganda’s health security priorities.
Submitting incomplete work plans.
Providing unclear budgets.
Ignoring local implementation requirements.
Failing to demonstrate organisational capacity.

Tips for a Strong Proposal

A competitive application should:

Clearly connect activities with health security gaps.
Demonstrate experience in public health programmes.
Include strong local partnerships.
Provide measurable outcomes.
Explain sustainability beyond funding support.
Align activities with NAPHS II priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the CDC Uganda Health Security Grant?

It is a CDC funding opportunity designed to strengthen Uganda’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats.

2. How much funding is available?

The estimated total programme funding is US$5 million.

3. What areas does the grant support?

The grant supports health emergency management, surveillance, laboratory systems, workforce development, border health, and One Health activities.

4. Who can apply?

Government agencies, universities, nonprofit organisations, private organisations, businesses, small businesses, tribal organisations, and foreign entities may apply.

5. Where must projects be implemented?

All funded activities must take place in Uganda.

6. Does the programme support outbreak response?

Yes. Funding supports responses to infectious disease outbreaks, emerging threats, and humanitarian health emergencies.

7. What is the One Health approach?

One Health is a collaborative approach connecting human health, animal health, and environmental health to address shared disease risks.

Conclusion

The CDC Uganda Global Health Security Funding Opportunity provides critical support for strengthening Uganda’s public health systems and emergency preparedness capacity. By investing in surveillance, laboratories, workforce development, and coordinated response systems, the programme aims to improve Uganda’s ability to protect communities from infectious diseases and future health emergencies.