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CHINNOVA Call for Climate-Resilient Health Research

Deadline: 08-May-2026

The Climate Change and Health Innovation Hub for West and Central Africa (CHINNOVA) has launched its second call for proposals to support collaborative research and innovation projects that strengthen climate-resilient health systems. With a total funding envelope of USD 1,000,000, at least five projects will be funded, with up to USD 200,000 per project for 24-month implementation between 2026 and 2028.

What is the CHINNOVA Second Call for Proposals?

The CHINNOVA Second Call for Proposals is a regional research and innovation funding opportunity focused on the growing link between climate change and public health in West and Central Africa.

It supports collaborative, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral projects that help countries build climate-resilient health systems, improve evidence-based decision-making, and strengthen institutional responses to climate-related health risks.

Funding Overview

Grant Amount

  • Total funding available: USD 1,000,000
  • Maximum funding per project: Up to USD 200,000

Number of Projects

  • At least 5 projects will be funded

Project Duration

  • Implementation period: 24 months
  • Project timeline: Between 2026 and 2028

Why This Call Matters

Climate change is increasingly affecting disease patterns, health system capacity, and community vulnerability across West and Central Africa.

CHINNOVA is important because it supports projects that can:

  • Improve climate-resilient health systems
  • Strengthen preparedness and response to climate-related health risks
  • Advance climate and health data systems
  • Promote evidence-based policy
  • Improve institutional coordination
  • Deliver locally relevant and practical solutions

The call responds to a major regional challenge: climate and health responses often remain fragmented, even as risks are increasing.

Priority Focus Areas

Projects should align with one or more of the following thematic areas:

1. Health Systems Preparedness and Response

Projects may focus on:

  • Preparedness for climate-related health threats
  • Emergency response systems
  • Health system resilience
  • Risk management for climate shocks

2. Climate and Health Data Systems

This includes support for:

  • Climate-health data integration
  • Surveillance systems
  • Early warning mechanisms
  • Decision-support tools
  • Data-driven public health planning

3. Climate-Sensitive Diseases and Health Outcomes

Projects may address:

  • Climate-sensitive infectious diseases
  • Heat-related health risks
  • Vector-borne disease trends
  • Environmental health outcomes
  • Other climate-linked health burdens

4. Gender Equality and Inclusion

The call encourages projects that:

  • Promote gender-responsive climate-health research
  • Address inclusion and equity gaps
  • Consider vulnerable or underserved populations

5. Community Engagement and Risk Communication

Proposals may include:

6. Policy and Institutional Innovation

Projects can also support:

  • Policy innovation
  • Governance reforms
  • Institutional strengthening
  • Climate-health integration in planning systems

What Type of Projects Are Expected?

CHINNOVA is looking for projects that are:

  • Collaborative
  • Interdisciplinary
  • Cross-sectoral
  • Scientifically credible
  • Locally grounded
  • Policy-relevant
  • Outcome-oriented

Strong proposals should clearly show their potential to:

  • Influence policy
  • Strengthen institutional capacity
  • Improve health outcomes
  • Integrate climate and health evidence
  • Produce practical solutions for the region

Who is Eligible?

The call is open to institutions involved in climate and health research across eligible countries.

Eligible Applicant Types

Applicants may include:

  • Universities
  • Accredited research institutes
  • Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with a research mandate
  • Other institutions involved in climate and health research

Eligible Countries

Applicants must be based in or operating in the following eligible countries:

How CHINNOVA Works

CHINNOVA aims to close gaps between climate research, health systems, and policy action.

It does this by supporting projects that:

  • Combine climate and health expertise
  • Improve access to relevant evidence and data
  • Strengthen research capacity
  • Support decision-making grounded in science
  • Generate practical models for climate-resilient health systems

This second call builds on the first call launched in October 2025, which funded multiple projects and attracted strong regional interest.

How to Apply

The second call is now open for proposals.

Recommended Application Steps

  1. Confirm that your institution fits an eligible applicant type
  2. Ensure your institution operates in one of the eligible West or Central African countries
  3. Build a collaborative and interdisciplinary project team
  4. Select a project aligned with one or more priority thematic areas
  5. Develop a proposal with:
    • Clear research objectives
    • Strong methodology
    • Practical innovation components
    • Policy relevance
    • Expected health outcomes
  6. Prepare a realistic budget of up to USD 200,000
  7. Design the workplan for 24 months (2026–2028)
  8. Submit according to the official CHINNOVA call instructions

Tips for a Strong Proposal

To improve your chances:

  • Show a clear link between climate risks and health outcomes
  • Use a strong interdisciplinary approach
  • Include both research quality and implementation relevance
  • Demonstrate how results can influence policy or institutions
  • Ground the project in local context and community realities
  • Include gender equality and inclusion where relevant
  • Show how the project will produce tangible outcomes, not just reports

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common weaknesses:

  • Submitting a project that is too academic and not practical enough
  • Failing to explain policy or health system relevance
  • Weak collaboration across sectors
  • Poor local grounding or limited community relevance
  • Unclear budget or unrealistic 24-month plan
  • Ignoring gender, inclusion, or risk communication where relevant
  • Not showing how the project strengthens climate-resilient health systems

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the CHINNOVA second call for proposals?

It is a regional funding call from the Climate Change and Health Innovation Hub for West and Central Africa (CHINNOVA) supporting research and innovation projects that strengthen climate-resilient health systems.

2. How much funding is available?

  • Total call budget: USD 1,000,000
  • Maximum per project: Up to USD 200,000

3. How many projects will be funded?

At least five projects will be selected.

4. How long can projects run?

Projects will run for:

  • 24 months
  • During the period 2026 to 2028

5. Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include:

  • Universities
  • Accredited research institutes
  • NGOs with a research mandate
  • Other institutions involved in climate and health research

6. Which countries are eligible?

Eligible countries include 18 countries in West and Central Africa, including Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Chad, DRC, and Côte d’Ivoire, among others.

7. What makes a strong CHINNOVA proposal?

A strong proposal should be:

  • Collaborative
  • Interdisciplinary
  • Policy-relevant
  • Locally grounded
  • Focused on practical climate-health outcomes
  • Capable of strengthening institutions and health systems

Conclusion

The CHINNOVA Second Call for Proposals is a strong opportunity for institutions working at the intersection of climate change, public health, and health systems resilience in West and Central Africa. With USD 1 million in total funding, up to USD 200,000 per project, and support for at least five 24-month projects, the call is well suited for organisations that can combine research excellence, policy relevance, and practical regional impact.

For more information, visit CHINNOVA.