Call for Projects: Protecting Public Health through Global Health Security (United States)

Deadline: 14-Aug-2026

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is inviting applications for a five-year cooperative agreement to strengthen global health security and public health systems in Kenya. The program provides approximately USD 10.5 million in Year 1 funding, with 2–3 awards expected to support disease surveillance, laboratory systems, outbreak preparedness, emergency response, workforce development, and implementation of the 7-1-7 outbreak detection and response framework.

About the CDC Global Health Security Cooperative Agreement

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a funding opportunity to strengthen Kenya’s public health system through a cooperative agreement focused on improving the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats.

Building on more than 40 years of collaboration between the CDC and the Government of Kenya, this initiative supports sustainable investments in disease surveillance, laboratory systems, emergency preparedness, and public health infrastructure. The programme contributes to global health security by enhancing Kenya’s ability to manage disease outbreaks quickly and effectively while strengthening national public health institutions.

The cooperative agreement emphasizes long-term capacity building, evidence-based public health practices, and improved coordination among national and international health partners.

Funding Information

The programme provides substantial multi-year financial support for eligible organizations.

Key funding details include:

• Funding organization: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Funding mechanism: Cooperative Agreement
• Expected Year 1 funding: Approximately USD 10.5 million
• Expected number of awards: 2 to 3
• Project duration: Five years
• Budget periods: Five consecutive 12-month budget periods

Applicants are required to submit:

• Work plans for all three funding components
• Budgets covering all proposed components

Although proposals must address every funding component, initial funding is expected to support only the core Global Health Security component, while additional emergency response components may receive funding later if resources become available.

About the 7-1-7 Framework

The 7-1-7 framework is an internationally recognized approach for improving outbreak preparedness and response.

The framework encourages countries to:

• Detect a suspected outbreak within 7 days
• Notify and investigate the outbreak within 1 day
• Implement effective public health response measures within 7 days

By adopting this framework, health systems can reduce outbreak impacts, strengthen emergency preparedness, and improve coordination among health agencies.

Focus Areas

The funding opportunity supports a broad range of public health security priorities, including:

• Global health security
• Infectious disease prevention
• Disease surveillance systems
• Laboratory capacity strengthening
• Outbreak detection
• Emergency preparedness
• Emergency response
• Public Health Emergency Operations Centers
• National Public Health Institute development
• Rapid outbreak response
• Health information systems
• Workforce development
• Cross-border disease surveillance
• Emergency risk communication
• Civil registration
• Mortality surveillance
• Laboratory networks
• Public health infrastructure
• Implementation of the 7-1-7 framework

Objectives of the Programme

The cooperative agreement aims to:

• Strengthen Kenya’s ability to prevent infectious disease outbreaks.
• Improve early detection of emerging public health threats.
• Enhance rapid outbreak investigation and response.
• Build resilient disease surveillance systems.
• Expand laboratory diagnostic capacity.
• Improve emergency preparedness and coordination.
• Strengthen national public health institutions.
• Develop a skilled public health workforce.
• Improve health information and surveillance systems.
• Advance Kenya’s global health security commitments.

What the Programme Supports

Funding may support activities such as:

• Disease surveillance improvements
• Laboratory system strengthening
• Public health emergency preparedness
• Outbreak investigation and response
• Emergency Operations Center development
• Workforce training and capacity building
• Health data management systems
• Cross-border disease monitoring
• Emergency risk communication
• Mortality and civil registration surveillance
• Public health infrastructure improvements
• National Public Health Institute strengthening
• Implementation of the 7-1-7 outbreak response model

Who is Eligible?

The funding opportunity is open to a wide range of organizations.

Eligible applicants include:

• Government entities
• Higher education institutions
• Nonprofit organizations
• For-profit organizations
• Small businesses
• Tribal organizations
• Foreign organizations
• Non-U.S.-based organizations

Projects must be implemented in Kenya.

Organizations meeting the CDC definition of a local partner may receive additional consideration during the review process.

Why This Funding Matters

Emerging infectious diseases continue to pose major public health and economic challenges worldwide. Strong surveillance systems, rapid outbreak detection, and coordinated emergency response are essential for protecting populations and preventing regional and global health crises.

This programme will help Kenya:

• Strengthen national health security.
• Improve outbreak preparedness.
• Build resilient laboratory networks.
• Enhance emergency management capacity.
• Improve disease surveillance.
• Strengthen cross-border health monitoring.
• Support sustainable public health systems.
• Protect communities against future epidemics and pandemics.

How the Cooperative Agreement Works

Successful applicants will work closely with the CDC throughout project implementation.

The programme includes:

1. Development of detailed implementation plans.
2. Submission of budgets for all programme components.
3. Collaboration with CDC technical experts.
4. Capacity-building activities across Kenya.
5. Continuous monitoring and evaluation.
6. Expansion of activities as additional funding becomes available.
7. Regular reporting on programme progress and outcomes.

How to Apply

Organizations should follow these steps:

1. Review all eligibility requirements.
2. Confirm organizational capacity to implement activities in Kenya.
3. Develop comprehensive work plans covering all funding components.
4. Prepare detailed project budgets.
5. Demonstrate expertise in global health security and outbreak response.
6. Align activities with the 7-1-7 outbreak response framework.
7. Submit the complete application before the official deadline.

Required Application Components

Applicants should prepare:

• Organizational information
• Detailed work plan
• Multi-year implementation strategy
• Budget for all programme components
• Technical approach
• Monitoring and evaluation framework
• Organizational capacity statement
• Relevant supporting documentation required by CDC

Selection Criteria

Applications are expected to be evaluated based on:

• Organizational experience
• Technical capacity
• Quality of proposed work plan
• Public health expertise
• Disease surveillance experience
• Laboratory strengthening expertise
• Emergency preparedness capacity
• Monitoring and evaluation approach
• Financial management capability
• Alignment with CDC priorities
• Capacity to implement activities in Kenya

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:

• Demonstrating previous global health security experience.
• Highlighting successful outbreak response programmes.
• Showing strong partnerships within Kenya.
• Including realistic implementation timelines.
• Aligning activities with the 7-1-7 framework.
• Presenting measurable outcomes and performance indicators.
• Developing strong monitoring and evaluation plans.
• Demonstrating experience in laboratory and surveillance system strengthening.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common issues:

• Submitting incomplete work plans.
• Providing unclear budgets.
• Weak monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Limited evidence of organizational capacity.
• Poor alignment with CDC priorities.
• Failing to demonstrate experience in Kenya.
• Ignoring outbreak preparedness and response requirements.
• Omitting plans for long-term sustainability.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is offering this funding opportunity?

The programme is offered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

How much funding is available?

Approximately USD 10.5 million is expected to be available during the first year of the cooperative agreement.

How many projects will be funded?

CDC expects to make 2 to 3 awards under this funding opportunity.

How long is the project period?

Projects may be funded for five years, consisting of five separate 12-month budget periods.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include government agencies, universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, small businesses, tribal organizations, and foreign organizations capable of implementing projects in Kenya.

Where must the project be implemented?

All funded activities must be implemented in Kenya.

What is the 7-1-7 framework?

The 7-1-7 framework is an outbreak preparedness approach that aims to detect outbreaks within seven days, notify and investigate within one day, and initiate an effective response within seven days.

Conclusion

The CDC Global Health Security Cooperative Agreement for Kenya represents a significant investment in strengthening the country’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. With USD 10.5 million in first-year funding, long-term technical collaboration, and a strong emphasis on surveillance, laboratory systems, emergency preparedness, and implementation of the 7-1-7 framework, the programme provides an important opportunity for qualified organizations to contribute to Kenya’s public health resilience and global health security.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.